ESPN analyst: 4 SEC teams have better chance at 2024 College Football Playoff than Alabama

There are plenty of mixed opinions about how good Alabama will be in Year 1 under Kalen DeBoer. ESPN analyst Harry Douglas is a part of the group that doesn’t have sky-high expectations for the Crimson Tide in 2024.

Douglas appeared on ESPN First Take Friday morning and shared that he believes at least four SEC teams have a better chance of reaching the College Football Playoff this season than Alabama.

“I would say this, it’s not a guarantee that Alabama’s going to make the College Football Playoff. When I look at the SEC right now, I could name four teams that I could think of before I even get to Alabama. And that’s Texas, Georgia, Missouri and Ole Miss. And then I talk about Alabama.”

Douglas pointed out that Alabama lost a lot of talented players off of last year’s roster, including a couple who transferred to national title contenders.

Former Alabama safety and National Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State this offseason, while second-leading receiver Isaiah Bond ended up at Texas.

“We can’t excuse the fact that you see an Isaiah Bond at the wide receiver position leave Alabama and go to Texas. When you have a Caleb Downs, who was a phenomenal defensive player in his freshman year, returning punts all over the football field, now at Ohio State. Those are major losses,” Douglas said.

He did acknowledge that Alabama still has a ton of talent on its roster. But he also believes other SEC teams have a better shot at reaching the College Football Playoff.

“Now the benefit at Alabama is you have four or five-star guys coming in every single year. But these are young guys that played a pivotal role in their success a season ago. But also the SEC, when I look at the transfer portal, we know Lane Kiffin is going to dip in that transfer portal. We can’t ignore what Missouri was able to do a season ago. So when I look at the top teams in the SEC, it’s Georgia, it’s Texas. I’m looking at Ole Miss. I’m looking at Missouri. And then in the conversation comes Alabama.”

Alabama reached the CFP in 2023, before falling to Michigan in a semifinal game. Nick Saban retired shortly thereafter, and Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer.

The former Washington coach led the Huskies to the national title game last season, before they lost to the Wolverines.