Steve Spurrier picks Alabama as his 2024 SEC Champion

Steve Spurrier is going out on a limb, predicting the Alabama Crimson Tide will win the SEC when the dust settles on the 2024 campaign.

In most other seasons, a prediction of Alabama would be elementary. However, with the departure of Nick Saban, there’s a ton of variables. However, that isn’t diminishing the former Florida and South Carolina leader’s confidence.

“Here’s what I’m going to get out there right now. I’m going to pick Alabama to win the SEC,” Spurrier said, via Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “Yeah, I like Jalen DeBoer, and I think their players and their team will say, ‘We don’t need our coach to win. We’re good enough to win by ourselves.’ And this guy’s a hell of a coach, Jalen DeBoer, and I think they’ve got a schedule they can work with. But that’d be a huge game. I think they do play Texas early, is that correct? Okay.

“But obviously, they’re — Georgia, Texas and Alabama are the top three, and I just think Alabama will be the team to do it this year.”

Now, Spurrier did misspeak a bit, calling freshly-minted Alabama leader Kalen DeBoer by the wrong name, and stating that the Crimson Tide play the Longhorns in 2024. Regardless, his prediction stands, as he’s rocking with Alabama, even without Saban calling the shots.

Although there were some notable departures after Saban’s retirement, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide still have some key pieces from last year’s SEC title-winning team which made the College Football Playoff.

The headliners are Jalen Milroe at quarterback and defensive back Malachi Moore anchoring the defense, but other notables such as offensive linemen Parker Brailsford and Tyler Booker are returning, as well.

Moreover, there’s a reason why Alabama fans continue to have high expectations this year, and why Spurrier is a believer. The Crimson Tide were picked No. 3 in the SEC preseason poll this year and also came in at No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll.

DeBoer’s first opportunity to show off his new-look Alabama team will come later this month, when the Crimson Tide open the season against Western Kentucky. That Aug. 31 game will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium, just one week before it becomes Nick Saban Field at BDS.

Perhaps Kalen DeBoer will keep Alabama at the same standard as Nick Saban. It’s easier said than done, but he has a major believer in Steve Spurrier entering the 2024 season, that’s for sure.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.