Paul Finebaum reveals thoughts on Alabama ranking in first AP Top 25 poll

To very little surprise, Alabama was the top-ranked team in the first AP Top 25 poll of the season. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum opened up about his thoughts on the Crimson Tide’s early ranking.

“This looks like one of Nick Saban’s best teams,” Paul Finebaum said on ESPN. “You could say that almost every year. Although, according to Saban, last year when they began number one a year ago today was a rebuilding year. This is not a rebuilding year. This is a reloading year.”

Paul Finebaum then pointed out how Nick Saban and Alabama have used the transfer portal this offseason to reload at positions of weakness. That way, they can fill in any gaps that they may have had on their roster.

“Alabama has cleaned up in the offseason.”

Clearly, Paul Finebaum thinks that Alabama is in a good position to run the table and make noise during the College Football Playoff this season.

Did Alabama rebuild in 2021?

No one would think that Alabama was rebuilding in 2021, except for Nick Saban. As Paul Finebaum pointed out, Saban referred to a season where Alabama won the SEC and played for the national championship as a rebuilding year.

Those were comments that Nick Saban was, ultimately, criticized for. Paul Finebaum also spoke out about the comments.

“However, I think when you take a deep breath–from a distance, it does come off as disingenuous. So I think it’s a great debate. And I don’t think there’s really an obvious winner or loser,” Paul Finebaum said.

Nick Saban, seemingly irritated, responded to some of the criticism that he faced for those comments, too.

“I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand,” Nick Saban said. “We were young, and [this year], we should have nine starters back on offense and nine starters back on defense. That’s the point I was trying to make … So–as we usually have to do–we have lots of rebuilding to do again this season. That’s the point that I was trying to make.”