The biggest question for years was how big of a step back Alabama would take once Nick Saban retired. Four months and one spring practice after Saban’s retirement, the answer seems to be “not much of one.”
Kalen DeBoer took Washington to the national title game last season, and he inherits a roster capable of making it to the title game this season. The loss of safety Caleb Downs to Ohio State certainly hurt, but getting offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor back from Iowa means the post-Saban drain is basically limited to Downs.
Meanwhile, Alabama has a deep defensive line, a linebacker group led by Deontae Lawson and a secondary that plugs in former USC cornerback Domani Jackson and former Michigan safety Keon Sabb.
The path isn’t easy by any stretch, but Alabama is so loaded that even in a worst-case scenario it’s difficult to imagine the Tide not making the CFP.
Kalen DeBoer took Washington to the national title game last season, and he inherits a roster capable of making it to the title game this season. The loss of safety Caleb Downs to Ohio State certainly hurt, but getting offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor back from Iowa means the post-Saban drain is basically limited to Downs.
Meanwhile, Alabama has a deep defensive line, a linebacker group led by Deontae Lawson and a secondary that plugs in former USC cornerback Domani Jackson and former Michigan safety Keon Sabb.
The path isn’t easy by any stretch, but Alabama is so loaded that even in a worst-case scenario it’s difficult to imagine the Tide not making the CFP.
