Paul Finebaum evaluates where Alabama stands in College Football Playoff picture

Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back in saying that Alabama is a legitimate national championship contender. When it comes to the College Football Playoff, you might as well pencil in the Crimson Tide right now.

Kalen DeBoer heads into Year 2 and the expectation is to make the CFP after coming up short last season with a 9-3 regular season record. But as Finebaum said, Alabama has the QB in Ty Simpson, plugged some holes and a well-rounded coaching staff.

With all of that in mind, he was puzzled at their ranking in the preseason AP Poll. Alabama came in at No. 8 overall.

“I have no trouble saying and I think Alabama is a legitimate national championship contender,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I think they were way too low yesterday. And I don’t know if we’ve ever said that in modern time, but to me, they are a top two, top three, top four team. I put them in there over Ohio State, a couple other schools as well, maybe even Georgia. But since they’re playing in six weeks, I’m not going to get too hung up on stuff like that. 

“But I really like it and so much of what I’m about to say sounds like I’m rehashing the last five months, but it started with nobody leaving. It continues with Ty Simpson. They have plugged so many holes. The recruiting has been outstanding, and the coaching staff is good for the first time since Kalen DeBoer got there. There were too many weaknesses last year, and we all know where those were and they’ve been rectified.”

Simpson is the most experienced quarterback on Alabama’s roster, and with Jalen Milroe moving on to the NFL, he assumed a leadership role across the entire team. Arguably the biggest move of the preseason, if it pays off, Alabama could go quite far.

“He really came into fall camp and had this way about him that was just confident, had a swagger,” DeBoer said of Simpson. “But not something where it was all about him or in an arrogant way. He’s continued to take steps from what he did this spring. And he’s done a great job taking care of the football and still being a guy who will push it down the field and create explosives. 

“He’s just been really consistent, and that’s what you’re looking for. He’s been really good as a leader, and just the command of the offense and the trust that everyone has in him, you can see it continue to build.”