Alabama
Published August 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM · 6 pages
Where Alabama stands right now: form, injuries and availability, roster movement, practice notes, and what coaches and media are actually saying.
Read this report as text The same 6 pages, for screen readers and searching
Page 1
C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L T E A M R E P O R T Alabama Crimson Tide 2026 Season G E N E R A T E D A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 2 6 0 1 : 1 0 P M I N T H I S R E P O R T 01 Overall Outlook 02 Visual Analytics 03 The Season: Played and Projected 04 Practice Notes 05 Roster News 06 Injury Report 07 What the Media Is Saying 08 What the Coaches Are Saying
Page 2
01 OVERALL OUTLOOK This section synthesizes the state of Alabama football as of August 9, 2026 — record, trajectory, and the two or three factors that will define the season. The Crimson Tide enter the 2026 season at 0-0, with FPI rating 20.13 ranking eighth nationally 1. The program is coming off a season defined by a historically broken running game — ranked 123rd nationally at 104.1 yards per game — and a roster that has been dramatically reshaped through the transfer portal 156. The returning production data tells a troubling story: the team's total PPA is 120.2, but rushing PPA is a negative -9.1, with only 26.4% of offensive production returning 1. That combination — elite passing efficiency, broken rushing, heavy losses to the portal — is the entire season in miniature. Three things will decide how this season goes. First, the running game: offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has made it the explicit priority of the fall, promising a simplified scheme with new assistant coaches and a reshaped backfield 109. Second, the quarterback battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, which Grubb has said may not be resolved until after the second scrimmage, roughly two weeks before the opener 9. Third, the defensive line and edge rusher turnover: Alabama lost four-star defensive linemen James Smith, Keon Keeley, and multiple edge players to the portal, while bringing in four-star additions like Devan Thompkins and Terrance Green 1. The defense's ability to replace that production without dropping off will be tested early. The trajectory is cautiously optimistic but fragile. The FPI has the Tide as a top-10 team, and the schedule is front-loaded with manageable non-conference games before the brutal SEC stretch. But the run game was so broken in 2025 that even a modest improvement could swing multiple close conference games. The portal haul — 17 incoming players, including four-star offensive linemen Ty Haywood and Nick Brooks — suggests the staff believes the fix is personnel as much as scheme 1. The talent is there; the question is whether it can be molded into a coherent unit before the SEC schedule arrives. 02 VISUAL ANALYTICS Generated directly from the CollegeFootballData feeds for this matchup. The same visuals appear on every report, so numbers can be compared like- for-like from one game to the next. SEASON RESULTS · Scoring margin for every completed game. Wins are in the team's color, losses in the contrast color, so blowouts and near-misses are separable at a glance. EFFICIENCY PROFILE · Every advanced metric converted to a national percentile against all FBS teams, so the outer ring is always better regardless of which way the raw stat runs. Alabama Crimson Tide · 2026 · Team Report Page 2 of 6
Page 3
FORM TREND · Week-by-week predicted points added on both sides of the ball. This is where a team trending up or sliding shows through, which season averages hide. TOP INDIVIDUAL IMPACT · The players who have actually moved the needle this season. Cross-reference against the injury and roster sections. THE ROAD AHEAD · Projected margin for every remaining game, from the SP+/FPI/Elo consensus with home-field advantage — the same baseline the matchup reports use. Bars below zero are games the ratings say this team should lose. 03 THE SEASON: PLAYED AND PROJECTED This section covers the completed games (none yet) and the projected road ahead, with ratings-based estimates for every remaining contest. The 2026 season has not yet begun — no games have been played. The opener is scheduled for September 5 against East Alabama Crimson Tide · 2026 · Team Report Page 3 of 6
Page 4
Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with an 11 a.m. kickoff confirmed 57. The completed results table is therefore empty: WEEK OPPONENT H/A RESULT SCORE — No games played — — — No game recaps exist because the season is still roughly a month away. The only schedule-related news is the confirmed East Carolina opener, which will be the first test of the rebuilt running game and the unnamed starting quarterback 7. The non- conference slate also includes Florida State at home in Week 3 and Chattanooga in Week 12, giving the Tide a chance to build confidence before the SEC gauntlet. The road ahead, based on the SP+/FPI/Elo consensus with home-field advantage applied, looks like this: WEEK OPPONENT SITE PROJECTED MARGIN WIN PROBABILITY 1 East Carolina Home +23.1 95.6% 2 Kentucky Away +12.4 82.1% 3 Florida State Home +13.2 83.6% 4 South Carolina Home +10.8 78.8% 5 Mississippi State Away +13.6 84.3% 6 Georgia Home -2.3 43.2% 7 Tennessee Away +2.7 57.9% 8 Texas A&M Home +2.5 57.3% 10 LSU Away -2.3 43.2% 11 Vanderbilt Away +8.7 74.0% 12 Chattanooga Home N/A N/A 13 Auburn Home +10.5 78.2% The projected final record is 7.8 wins, with an expected 7.8 remaining wins 1. The likeliest stumble is clear: the ratings have Alabama as underdogs in exactly two games — Georgia at home and LSU on the road, both with 43.2% win probabilities. The stretch that decides the season is weeks 6 through 10: Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, then LSU. That's four consecutive games against the SEC's best, with three of them projected within a field goal either way. Win three of those and the Tide are in the playoff conversation; drop three and they're fighting for a mid-tier bowl. The "Road Ahead" chart shows this cluster as the only negative or near-zero bars on the schedule. These projections are ratings-based estimates, not promises — they use the same baseline as the matchup reports and should be treated as a starting point, not a prediction of specific outcomes. No graded prediction record for this team was available, so there's no track record to assess how these projections have fared historically. 04 PRACTICE NOTES This section covers the latest from fall camp: who's standing out, who's limited, and what the coaching staff is installing. The running back room is the story of camp so far. Daniel Hill has transformed his body — now reportedly "really lean in the 230s, even in the high 220s" — and Grubb has all but named him the starter, saying "It starts with him" and praising his improved agility, command of the offense, and pass blocking 7. Meanwhile, freshman EJ Crowell, who missed most of spring with a calf injury, is back and participating fully, drawing praise for his explosiveness and physicality, though Grubb has repeatedly cautioned that he still needs to learn how to practice at full speed consistently 4512. The room also includes Kevin Riley, fully healthy after a broken jaw and reportedly heavier and more explosive, and sophomores AK Dear and Tre'shawn Brown who have both impressed early 5. The offensive line is getting just as much attention. New offensive line coach Adrian Klemm has been focusing on technique in individual drills — footwork and hand placement on every rep — as part of a broader effort to rebuild a unit that struggled mightily in 2025 9. Grubb has been effusive about Klemm, calling him "a master teacher" and crediting him with bringing an immediate solution-oriented approach to practice 9. The scheme itself is being simplified, with Grubb saying the staff will "simplify and do your best stuff" and rely on "proven blockers" at tight end, including a healthy Danny Lewis and Kaleb Edwards 10. The first padded practice was scheduled for August 7, which will be the first real test of the rebuilt run scheme and the young backs in contact situations 6. The quarterback battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack is the other major storyline. Grubb has said the team "probably will" need both scheduled scrimmages — one on August 13 and one on August 20 — to decide the starter, with the first scrimmage roughly a week away from his comments 9. He noted that Russell improved at taking care of the football in the summer, while Mack was better on the run out of the pocket 9. The decision could drag into late August, which would delay the Alabama Crimson Tide · 2026 · Team Report Page 4 of 6
Page 5
offensive identity and continuity heading into the opener — a risk the staff seems aware of, with Grubb acknowledging that "obviously the longer your team can have their starter named, the better off you are" 9. The "Top Individual Impact" chart is not yet available since no games have been played, but the early camp observations suggest Hill and Crowell are the two players most likely to move the needle on offense, with the quarterback battle determining who gets the keys. 05 ROSTER NEWS This section covers non-injury roster movement: the verified transfer portal wire, then researched news on depth chart changes and staff moves. Transfer portal (verified CFBD entries): The portal has been a defining force for Alabama this offseason. Incoming transfers include four-star defensive linemen Devan Thompkins (USC) and Terrance Green (Oregon), four-star receiver Noah Rogers (NC State), four-star offensive linemen Nick Brooks (Texas), Ty Haywood (Michigan), and several three-star linemen and skill players 1. Outgoing transfers include four-star losses at every position group: receiver Isaiah Horton (Texas A&M), defensive linemen James Smith and Keon Keeley (Ohio State and Notre Dame), edge rushers Qua Russaw and Noah Carter (Ohio State and Georgia Tech), offensive tackle Wilkin Formby (Texas A&M), and many others 1. The full list, with star ratings, is in the data — the net effect is a massive roster overhaul, particularly on the offensive line, where the Tide brought in six new blockers while losing four 1. Researched news: The most significant roster development is the reshaped running back room. Jam Miller has exhausted his eligibility and Richard Young transferred to Colorado, leaving Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, and AK Dear as the core, with Crowell, Brown, and transfer Khalifa Keith added to the mix 6. Grubb has positioned Hill as the clear lead back entering camp, praising his offseason transformation and calling him the focal point of the rebuilt run game 7. The quarterback competition between Russell and Mack remains unresolved, with Grubb saying the decision may not come until after the second scrimmage 9. New staff additions include offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, tight ends coach Richard Owens, and running backs coach Derrick Nix, all of whom DeBoer praised at SEC Media Days for gelling with the existing staff 17. No suspensions or eligibility rulings were reported in the window. 06 INJURY REPORT This section covers medical items only, with two clearly labeled groups: live web research and the stored injury feed. Live web research: The most significant injury is to receiver Noah Rogers, the four-star transfer from NC State, who is recovering from a left knee injury suffered in the A-Day scrimmage. DeBoer said at SEC Media Days that Rogers is ahead of schedule but will still miss some games early in the 2026 season, with no specific target date set 3. The Tide will be without one of their expected starting receivers for the start of the regular season. Running back EJ Crowell, who missed most of spring with a right calf injury described as a "soft tissue deal," returned to practice on July 29 and has been a full participant since, with Grubb and DeBoer praising his progress 46. Kevin Riley, who suffered a broken jaw at the end of last season, entered camp fully healthy and has added weight and explosiveness, according to Grubb 5. Daniel Hill is healthy and practicing after a conditioning-focused offseason, with no injury component reported 7. Injury feed: The stored injury feed confirms the same items: Noah Rogers is out for the early season (reported July 29, status "Out (early season)") 2; EJ Crowell is practicing and returned from his calf injury (reported August 1, status "Practicing (returned from calf injury)") 2; Kevin Riley is healthy after his broken jaw (reported August 1) 2; and Daniel Hill is listed as healthy and practicing (reported August 6) 2. No new acute injuries were reported in the 14-day window. 07 WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING This section covers national and local coverage, analyst takes, and any rankings or betting-market sentiment. The dominant narrative in the media is the resurrection of the running game. Ryan Grubb's vow to fix the ground attack — which ranked 123rd nationally at 104.1 yards per game in 2025 — has been covered extensively, with outlets like Saturday Down South and Heavy highlighting his plan to "simplify and do your best stuff" with new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm and tight ends coach Richard Owens 1510. The coverage has been largely positive about the approach, with praise for the roster overhaul and the new staff, but there's an underlying skepticism about whether a scheme fix alone can undo a season of terrible rushing production. The return of tight end Danny Lewis and the addition of Kaleb Edwards as "long-levered players" has been framed as a key piece of the plan 10. Alabama Crimson Tide · 2026 · Team Report Page 5 of 6
Page 6
The quarterback battle is the other major media storyline. On3 reported DeBoer's comments about the traits he wants from the starter, with Grubb noting Russell's improved ball security and Mack's better play on the run 16. The coverage suggests the decision could drag into the third week of fall camp, which has some analysts questioning whether the delay hurts offensive continuity. The running back room has also drawn attention, with Daniel Hill positioned as the likely starter and EJ Crowell as the high-upside freshman, though Grubb has been careful to temper expectations about Crowell's readiness 513. No recent poll or betting-market items were found in the window, so there's no fresh sentiment on Alabama's national standing beyond the FPI rating of 20.13, which ranks eighth. The general tenor is cautiously optimistic — the talent is there, the portal brought in reinforcements, but the run game and the quarterback decision are the wild cards that will determine whether this is a playoff team or a nine-win team. 08 WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING This section includes direct quotes from head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb from recent press conferences and media availabilities. Ryan Grubb has been the most quotable member of the staff this week. On the running game, he said after the second fall camp practice on August 6: "Simplify and do your best stuff. Don't get an inch deep and a mile wide. Do what you're good at and be great at it. And coach Klemm has done an excellent job with helping build that." He added, "I'm super excited to work with those two guys and resurrecting the run game, and we will" 9. On Daniel Hill, he said the junior "runs different, he's got good agility, he's got great command of the offense. He's super intelligent, excellent pass blocker, I think it starts with him" 13. On EJ Crowell, Grubb was effusive but measured: "EJ's young, super explosive, runs out over his toes, has good bounce. He's thick with the ball. He runs physical; he runs bigger than he is. He's got speed in the long end. He's just got to learn the game; he's got to learn how to practice full speed all the time... Sky is the limit for him, but he's got to learn the game" 5. On the quarterback competition, Grubb acknowledged the decision may take both scrimmages: "Obviously the longer your team can have their starter named, the better off you are... We just want to make sure we make the right decision" 9. He also detailed the growth of each candidate: "Austin, I thought he was better on the run out of the pocket... Keelon did a better job taking care of the football in the summer than he did the spring" 9. He credited the medical staff for Danny Lewis's recovery, calling him "one of the best stories of camp" 9. Kalen DeBoer, speaking at SEC Media Days, made the run game a team-wide priority: "We want to be able to run the football better. I think that will help the overall team, overall when it comes to protecting your quarterback. Makes play calling easier. So that's something we've addressed and stressed within our team" 17. He also set expectations for freshmen EJ Crowell and receiver Cederian Morgan: "We're going to need that from those guys that you mentioned. Both EJ and Cederian I think are guys that we'll be looking to that could have an impact that is significant and one that's needed to help our football team" 17. DeBoer also praised his new staff additions — Richard Owens, Adrian Klemm, and Derrick Nix — for gelling with the existing group 17. SOURCES 1. College Football Data API (CollegeFootballData) https://collegefootballdata.com 2. College football injury feed (Injury feed) https://www.rotowire.com/cfootball/news.php 3. Kalen DeBoer: Noah Rogers ahead of schedule but will still miss early 2026 games (On3) https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/news/noah-rogers-injury-update- latest-on-alabama-wr-from-sec-media-days/ 4. EJ Crowell returns to practice after calf injury, impresses in fall camp (Sports Illustrated) https://www.si.com/college/alabama/football/how-freshman-running-back-ej-crowell- adjusting-alabama-fall-camp 5. Kevin Riley returns to fall camp fully healthy after broken jaw (Tide 100.9) https://tide1009.com/ryan-grubb-breakdown-running-back-room/ 6. Ryan Grubb: EJ Crowell 'sky is the limit' but he must learn the game (al.com) https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2026/08/how-ryan-grubb-is-resurrecting-the-run- game-for-alabama-football.html 7. Daniel Hill transformed body to 220s to enhance run game impact in 2026 (al.com) https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2026/08/this-alabama-running-backs-physical- transformation-could-make-huge-impact-in-2026-it-starts-with-him.html 8. 5 revealing observations from Alabama football’s first week of fall camp https://bamahammer.com/5-revealing-observations-from-alabama-football-s-first- week-of-fall-camp 9. Alabama football OC Ryan Grubb vows to fix run game in 2026 | Roll 'Bama Roll (Roll 'Bama Roll) https://www.rollbamaroll.com/alabama-crimson-tide-football/83042/alabama-football- ryan-grubb-vows-to-fix-run-game-in-2026 10. Ryan Grubb Reveals Alabama Football’s Plan to Revive Run Game in 2026 (Heavy.com) https://heavy.com/sports/college-football/alabama-crimson-tide/run-game-ryan- grubb-2026/ 11. Alabama OC Ryan Grubb Sends Strong Message About RB Daniel Hill's Role - Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alabama-oc-ryan-grubb-sends-110038221.html 12. DeBoer: Crowell 'dinged up' in spring, but 'got through that' in summer (TD Alabama Magazine) https://tdalabamamag.com/2026/08/06/alabama-freshman-running-back-off-to- running-start-in-fall-camp/ 13. EJ Crowell draws praise from Grubb but still needs to learn game (al.com) https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2026/08/skys-the-limit-for-this-alabama- freshman.html 14. Daniel Hill reveals details behind offseason weight loss https://tdalabamamag.com/2026/08/06/alabama-rb-daniel-hill-reveals-details- behind-offseason-weight-loss/ 15. Ryan Grubb: 'We will' resurrect Alabama's run game (Saturday Down South) https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/ryan-grubb-we-will- resurrect-alabamas-run-game/ 16. Kalen DeBoer reveals biggest traits Alabama wants from starting quarterback battle (On3) https://www.on3.com/news/kalen-deboer-reveals-biggest-traits-alabama-wants- from-starting-quarterback-battle/ 17. Kalen DeBoer wants to improve run game, expects fewer impact freshmen in 2026 (Saturday Down South) https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/everything-kalen- deboer-said-from-the-podium-at-sec-media-days/ Alabama Crimson Tide · 2026 · Team Report Page 6 of 6
More coverage: Alabama reports All Team Reports
Entertainment only. This report is analysis and commentary, not advice, and nothing in it predicts or guarantees any result. Any wager you place is at your own risk. Full disclaimer.