Five Coaches Disqualify Alabama Football from the Final Ranking of the Top 25 Coaches
Alabama football has long been one of the most dominant programs in NCAA history. With a legacy that includes multiple national championships, a robust recruiting pipeline, and legendary figures at the helm, the Crimson Tide is often viewed as the benchmark of excellence in college football. However, the recent controversy surrounding the disqualification of Alabama football from the final ranking of the top 25 coaches in the country has sent shockwaves through the sport. The decision stems from the votes of five prominent coaches who have raised critical concerns about Alabama’s standing.
The Top 25 Coaches and the Ranking System
Each year, college football analysts, sports writers, and coaches themselves participate in a ranking system to determine which teams and their coaching staffs are truly the best in the country. This ranking system is not a simple measure of the top-performing teams, but a nuanced evaluation that takes into account a variety of factors: program history, recent performance, recruiting success, coaching staff quality, player development, and overall impact on the sport. The final rankings are usually highly anticipated, providing a clear picture of which programs have the most effective and successful coaching staff.
In recent years, Alabama has consistently been ranked within the top 5, often occupying the No. 1 or No. 2 spot. With Nick Saban at the helm, the program seemed to have few challengers in its pursuit of greatness. However, this year’s rankings tell a different story. The coaches in question have argued that Alabama, despite its storied history and recent successes, does not belong in the final ranking of the top 25 coaches. Let’s take a closer look at the five coaches responsible for disqualifying Alabama football and their reasoning.
Coach 1: Urban Meyer – A Critique of Program Decline
Urban Meyer, former head coach of Florida and Ohio State, is widely considered one of the most successful coaches of the modern era. His tenure with both programs resulted in multiple national championships, and he’s earned a reputation for his ability to build teams that thrive in big moments. However, Meyer’s decision to disqualify Alabama stems from his concerns about the program’s recent performance and its reliance on past success.
Meyer has voiced his belief that Alabama’s program is starting to show signs of decline, particularly under Nick Saban in recent seasons. While the Tide still boasts impressive recruiting classes, Meyer argues that the team has not been able to win a national title since 2020. Meyer is quick to point out that Saban’s coaching success may be diminishing, considering that Alabama has failed to secure a national championship in several seasons.
“The margin of error is getting smaller for Alabama,” Meyer has said in interviews. “They’ve been living off of their reputation and past successes, but you have to wonder if the program is still at the peak it was just a few years ago.” Meyer suggests that Saban’s inability to adapt to changes in the college football landscape, such as new rules, transfer portals, and NIL agreements, has hindered Alabama’s ability to maintain dominance.
Coach 2: Dabo Swinney – The Case for Innovation
Dabo Swinney, head coach of the Clemson Tigers, is one of the few coaches who has been able to challenge Alabama’s supremacy over the past decade. Under Swinney’s leadership, Clemson has won two national championships, and his program has remained one of the top contenders year after year. Swinney’s critique of Alabama centers on innovation—or the perceived lack thereof.
While Swinney has the utmost respect for Nick Saban’s legacy and accomplishments, he argues that Alabama has been slow to evolve in terms of offensive strategy and player development. In a time when teams are becoming more dynamic, especially on the offensive side of the ball, Alabama has been criticized for sticking to a more traditional, pro-style offense that leans heavily on the running game and physicality.
“I think they’re stuck in a rut,” Swinney said during an interview. “Alabama is a very good team, but I don’t think they’re adapting fast enough to the changes in the game. We see programs like Clemson and even Georgia pushing the envelope in terms of offensive creativity, and I think Alabama has been a bit too conservative with its offensive approach.”
Swinney believes that while Alabama’s defense is still elite, the Tide’s offense has not evolved at the same rate as other top programs. His disqualification of Alabama from the final top 25 rankings is based on the notion that, despite being competitive, the Crimson Tide is not innovating at the level of the top coaching staffs in the country.
Coach 3: Lincoln Riley – The Challenges of Recruitment
Lincoln Riley, former head coach at Oklahoma and currently the head coach of USC, has seen firsthand how Alabama’s recruiting machine has reshaped the landscape of college football. Alabama consistently brings in top-tier talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, Riley’s concern with the program revolves around Alabama’s ability to attract elite offensive talent, particularly at the quarterback position.
While Saban has managed to develop several outstanding quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, Riley argues that Alabama has not consistently landed the type of game-changing, high-caliber quarterbacks that other programs, including his own, have recruited. With an emphasis on recruiting quarterbacks capable of leading high-scoring offenses, Riley believes that Alabama’s inability to secure a long-term answer at quarterback could be holding them back.
“I think the difference between the top-tier programs right now is their quarterback play,” Riley explained in a press conference. “Look at what programs like USC, Ohio State, and even Oklahoma have done at quarterback. Alabama hasn’t consistently had that elite quarterback that can elevate their offense to the next level. Until they do, they’re going to be a step behind the truly elite programs.”
Riley’s critique highlights a weakness that could cost Alabama in its long-term viability as a championship contender. Though Saban has continued to field highly competitive teams, the inability to recruit an all-time great quarterback may hinder the Tide’s chances in the ever-evolving college football landscape.
Coach 4: Jim Harbaugh – Recruiting Challenges in a Changing Era
Jim Harbaugh, the head coach at Michigan, brings a unique perspective to the disqualification of Alabama from the final top 25 rankings. Known for his intensity and passion, Harbaugh has built a competitive program at Michigan, which has emerged as a serious contender in the Big Ten and national college football scene. However, Harbaugh’s disqualification of Alabama stems from what he perceives as the program’s inability to navigate the rapidly changing college football environment, particularly in terms of recruiting.
“I believe Alabama’s ability to recruit has been challenged in recent years,” Harbaugh said. “The influx of NIL money, the transfer portal, and changes in recruiting rules have made it harder for even the most established programs to stay ahead. It used to be that Alabama could easily pull in the best players year after year, but that dominance is now being tested.”
Harbaugh’s concern is that Alabama may no longer have the same recruiting edge that once set it apart. The emergence of programs with deep pockets—such as Texas A&M, USC, and others—has leveled the playing field, and Harbaugh believes that Alabama must adapt more quickly to remain competitive.
Coach 5: Matt Campbell – A New Era of Program Management
Matt Campbell, head coach at Iowa State, is another coach who has been making waves in the college football world. While Campbell’s program has not achieved the same level of success as Alabama, he is known for his innovative approach to managing a college football team. Campbell’s critique of Alabama is rooted in his belief that modern programs need more than just elite talent and coaching ability—they need to foster a sustainable culture that includes strong team development and player empowerment.
“I think Nick Saban’s success has been built on the back of a powerful, top-down system,” Campbell explained. “But I also believe that as the sport evolves, we need to look beyond Xs and Os. Programs need to invest in the holistic development of their players—mentally, emotionally, and socially. I’m not sure Alabama has been able to truly modernize its approach to team management in the way that other programs are doing.”
Campbell’s perspective reflects a shift in how college football programs are now viewed. It’s no longer enough to simply recruit top talent and implement a rigid coaching system. Instead, Campbell and other coaches are focusing on the emotional intelligence and overall well-being of their players. Campbell believes Alabama, despite its tradition of excellence, may not be evolving fast enough in this area.
Conclusion: A New Era of College Football
Alabama football has long been a powerhouse in the world of college football, but the recent disqualification from the final top 25 rankings highlights the evolving nature of the sport. The critiques from five of the sport’s most successful coaches—Urban Meyer, Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, Jim Harbaugh, and Matt Campbell—reveal a shared concern: the program may be struggling to keep pace with the rapid changes in college football, particularly in terms of recruiting, offensive innovation, and overall program management.
While Alabama remains a strong contender, these critiques offer a glimpse into the future of college football. The programs that succeed in the coming years will need to adapt to new challenges and embrace a holistic approach to coaching, recruitment, and player development. It remains to be seen whether Alabama can continue to compete at the highest level or if these changes will mark the beginning of a new era in college football where new programs rise to prominence.
Alabama fans may be disappointed by the disqualification, but the sport is changing, and every program—no matter how successful—must adapt if it wishes to remain relevant in the ever-evolving landscape of college football.