Kirk Herbstreit explains why he is high on Alabama in 2023

Kirk Herbstreit is calling his shot, believing the Alabama Crimson Tide will have a resurgence in 2023.

While he relented that it makes sense that the Georgia Bulldogs continue to receive a ton of hype, both within the SEC and nationwide, Herbstreit believes Alabama will bounce back. After a down season in 2022, the ESPN College GameDay analyst refuses to doubt Nick Saban, even with questions at the quarterback position.

“Alabama’s the one team, you brought it up, last year [David] Pollack said everybody made a big deal on social media, that he said it right in front of Nick [Saban]’s face, Georgia’s the new bar. You have to say that, after they won back-to-back national championships. And not only that, what are they, preseason No. 1, and no one’s expecting them to drop off. I sure as heck don’t think they’re going to fall off, even if they don’t win it all,” explained Herbstreit, via The Pat McAfee Show. “So they are like the new bar, but guess what? Nick Saban’s still the head coach at Alabama, and history tells you that when people say the things that they’re saying, ‘Yeah, they suck, they’re done, it’s over,’ go to Vegas and put something on Alabama, because history shows that when there’s a quote-unquote down year for them, the next year, they end up winning it all. So I’m going to need to see it to believe it, that Alabama’s not going to be in the SEC Championship, and four quarters away from having a chance to get right back into the Playoff, and having a chance to win it all again.

“I don’t even know who their quarterback is. I know who the contenders are. But I don’t even care who their quarterback is.”

It’s looking like one of Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson or Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner will be Alabama’s signal caller, but Herbstreit doesn’t care, he’s riding with the Crimson Tide regardless. Heck, we could see all three get a shot before Saban settles on a starting quarterback. Either way, Herbstreit is a believer.

It’s not like Alabama had a bad season in 2022. They still were barely left out of the College Football Playoff. But expectations are higher in Tuscaloosa, and they believe they should always at least be in that group of the last four teams.

Time will tell if Kirk Herbstreit is right about the Crimson Tide, but bet against Alabama at your own risk in 2023.