ESPN's Jordan Rogers went on Get Up on Friday and sold out his colleague Heather Dinich on the World Wide Leader in Sports' airwaves, accusing her of clickbait by ranking the Alabama Crimson Tide below the Penn State Nittany Lions in her way-too-early rankings.
Rogers believes Alabama should be closer to the top 10 than behind first-year Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell and transfer quarterback Rocco Becht, who both left the Iowa State Cyclones for Penn State this offseason.
Rogers defended the Crimson Tide's quarterback competition, which will pit Austin Mack against Keelon Russell, and pumped up Alabama's running game and offensive line.
“It is criminal. Now, look, you’re really smart, because when you release the college football ranking this early, this many months in advance, you gotta rage-bait a little bit. You got to drop some nuggets that are going to get people fired up. That one, putting Alabama, not just at 17, Heather, but behind Penn State. Penn State had almost 50 guys transfer out of that program," Rogers said.
“I love Matt Campbell, and I love Rocco Becht. I think they’re going to get it going. But Alabama should be a little closer to 10. Not maybe in the top 10, right around Oklahoma, who they beat in the playoffs. They did go to an SEC championship. They did go to the playoffs. They did win a playoff game. And I know, Ty Simpson covered a lot of deficiencies, especially on offense. Keelon Russell and Austin Mack are going to have a competition. That, and the run game, and O-line, are super important, 17? Seventeen? Come on, Heather.”
Alabama's offense set to let Jordan Rogers down in 2026
Rogers is going to have another thing coming about the Crimson Tide's offense during the 2026 season.
When it comes to the run game, Alabama took a dramatic step back under Ryan Grubb. Wouldn't you know it, the Seattle Seahawks, who Grubb left in the offseason, just had running back Kenneth Walker III win the Super Bowl LX MVP. Coincidence? Nope.
The Crimson Tide's QBs are unproven, but to their credit, they are athletic. They'll need all the athleticism in the world to outrun opposing pass-rushes that are not being slowed down by Alabama's underwhelming offensive line.
Rogers may think the Tide being ranked below the Nittany Lions is clickbait, but reality may prove that even No. 17 is too high for Alabama this coming fall.
Things really may get ugly in Tuscaloosa for Kalen DeBoer and Co.