Alabama checks in at No. 3 in first Coaches Poll of 2023
The first Coaches Poll is out for 2023, and the Alabama football team currently sits at No. 3 as we inch closer to the start of the season. The Crimson Tide are one of six SEC teams ranked in the top-25, joining Georgia (No. 1), LSU (No. 5), Tennessee (No. 10), Ole Miss (No. 22) and Texas A&M (No. 25).
We also found out with the latest rankings that Alabama’s Week 2 opponent, the Texas Longhorns, are sitting at No. 12, which makes for an interesting home matchup on Sept. 9. Last season, the two teams faced off in Austin with the Crimson Tide barely walking away with a 20-19 victory. And of course, both Texas and Oklahoma — both included in the top-25 — will be joining the SEC beginning in 2024.
Below, you’ll find the initial Coaches Poll.
2022 Coaches Poll
*Note: Team Name (Record) — First-Place Votes
1. Georgia Bulldogs (0-0) — 61
2. Michigan Wolverines (0-0)
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) — 4
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0) — 1
5. LSU Tigers (0-0)
6. USC Trojans (0-0)
7. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0)
8. Florida State Seminoles (0-0)
9. Clemson Tigers (0-0)
10. Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
11. Washington Huskies (0-0)
12. Texas Longhorns (0-0)
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0)
14. Utah Utes (0-0)
15. Oregon Ducks (0-0)
16. TCU Horned Frogs (0-0)
17. Kansas State Wildcats (0-0)
18. Oregon State Beavers (0-0)
19. Oklahoma Sooners (0-0)
20. North Carolina Tar Heels (0-0)
21. Wisconsin Badgers (0-0)
22. Ole Miss Rebels (0-0)
23. Tulane Green Wave (0-0)
24. Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0)
25. Texas A&M Aggies (0-0)
Others receiving votes
Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; Texas-San Antonio 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; Southern Methodist 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.
Four SEC teams making the top-10 once again shows the competition at the top of the conference, but six of the 14 schools were either ranked in the top-25 or received votes, which also speaks to the depth. As of right now, Alabama has five top-25 opponents on its schedule with three of those being in the top-12. More than likely, UA would the play another top-5 opponent in Georgia, if it were to make it to the SEC Championship Game.
In other words, Alabama’s path to the College Football Playoff won’t be easy.
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