Kirk Herbstreit explains decision to pick Alabama as national champions

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit is all in Alabama winning the national championship this season and he explained why: the Crimson Tide are the standard.

Alabama missed the playoff last season which raised some eyebrows around college football, especially with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young under center. Now, Alabama has a quarterback conundrum but a stout running game.

Is it enough for Alabama to win the SEC and win it all for the seventh time under Nick Saban? Herbstreit thinks so.

“Last sentence is why I’m picking Bama to reach the National Title and win it,” Herbstreit wrote on Twitter. “Expecting this team to play with a chip on their shoulders.”

Herbstreit referenced running back Jase McClellan’s quote about Alabama running the football this season.

“Our identity is being physical on offense,” McClellan said. “Something that we are focused on is having balance passing the ball and running the ball. We want to show people that Alabama is still the standard.”

McClellan could be a big part of it. He started breaking out in 2022 with 112 carries, 655 yards, seven touchdowns, 5.8 yards per carry, 14 catches, 174 receiving yards and three touchdowns receptions.

Kirk Herbstreit picking Alabama to win national title

Offensively, the quarterback situation does bring a ton of questions. None of Tyler Buchner, Jalen Milroe, nor Ty Simpson have been named the starter. Saban has stated the job will go past the first week of the regular season as well.

As Herbstreit mentioned, look for the run game to once again be the program’s bread and butter. The offensive line has gotten bigger, while there are a slew of running backs ready to carry the rock. Saban famously said Alabama is trying to make opposing defenses quit. That’s the mentality under new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

“I’m bullish on Alabama this year,” Herbstreit said earlier this month during The Herbie Awards. “I just have that weird feeling. People kind of ‘Oh Saban. There’s a new sheriff in town. It’s Kirby and Georgia. Alabama is done, Saban is done.’ All that kind of talk.

“I think it just motivates — history tells us. When Alabama doesn’t quite accomplish their goals from a year before, even though they have quarterback concerns — look for them to bounce back. It’s going to be the old-school Alabama. Running the football, field position, taking care of the ball, winning the turnover battle. I think they go back to their roots.”

Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report