The 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "Bama", or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Crimson Tide's 129th overall season, 90th as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and 32nd and final season within the SEC Western Division, with Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC on July 1, 2024. They played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and were led by Nick Saban in his 17th and final season as head coach.
Looking to build on the successes of the 2022 campaign, Alabama entered the 2023 season after winning the Sugar Bowl over Kansas State, and were the favorite to win the Western Division and meet the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. They were No. 4 in the pre-season polls, but a loss to Texas and a narrow win against South Florida dropped them to No. 13 in the rankings. Alabama would recover and close out the regular season by winning its next 9 games, alongside a narrow win against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, to finish with an 11–1 record (8–0 in SEC play) and meet the Bulldogs for the SEC Championship in a rematch of the 2021 contest. Alabama was victorious by a final score of 27–24 to capture their 11th SEC championship title, ending Georgia's 29-game winning streak that started after a 2021 loss, also to Alabama. The following day, final College Football Playoff (CFP) standings were unveiled. Alabama, alongside the Big 12 Conference champions Texas, were selected ahead of Florida State for the College Football Playoff. No. 4 Alabama was defeated by the eventual national champion, No. 1 Michigan, in the 2024 Rose Bowl in overtime, 27–20.
This season marked the first time since 2007 that Alabama was not ranked #1 in any week in the AP Poll following the release of the final season rankings on January 9, 2024. The following day, on January 10, Nick Saban announced that he would be retiring as the Crimson Tide's head coach.
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team drew an average home attendance of 100,077 in 2023.
Offseason
Team departures Over the course of the off-season, Alabama lost 45 total players. 15 players graduated, 12 declared for the 2023 NFL draft, while the other 18 entered the transfer portal. 2023 Alabama offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height/Weight Hometown Year Reason Jahmyr Gibbs #1 RB 5'11, 200 Dalton, GA Junior Declared for 2023 NFL draft DeMarcco Hellams #2 S 6’1, 208 Washington, DC Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft Khyree Jackson #6 CB 6’3, 198 Upper Marlboro, MD Junior Elected to transfer to Oregon Trey Sanders #6 RB 6’0, 214 Port Saint Joe, FL Junior Elected to transfer to TCU Jordan Battle #9 SS 6’1, 206 Fort Lauderdale, FL Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft Eli Ricks #7 CB 6’2, 190 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Junior Declared for 2023 NFL draft Tyler Harrell #8 WR 6'0, 197 Miami, FL Junior Elected to transfer to Miami Bryce Young #9 QB 6’0, 194 Philadelphia, PA Junior Declared for 2023 NFL draft Henry To'oTo'o #10 MLB 5’10, 175 Sacramento, CA Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft JoJo Earle #10 WR 5'10, 177 Aledo, TX Sophomore Elected to transfer to TCU Traeshon Holden #11 WR 6’1, 190 Hollywood, FL Junior Elected to transfer to Oregon Christian Leary #12 WR 5’10, 175 Orlando, FL Sophomore Elected to transfer to Georgia Tech Aaron Anderson #13 WR 5'9, 184 New Orleans, LA Freshman Elected to transfer to LSU Brian Branch #14 S 6’1, 193 Fayetteville, GA Junior Declared for 2023 NFL draft Trequon Fegans #22 DB 6'2, 185 Alabaster, AL Freshman Elected to transfer to USC Jahquez Robinson #23 DB 6'2, 199 Jacksonville, FL Junior Elected to transfer to Colorado Rodney Johnson #27 CB 5'11, 160 Gadsden, AL Freshman TBD Elijah Crockett #29 RB 5'11, 210 Chino Hills, CA Sophomore TBD Jacoby Boykins #30 WR 5'11, 182 Houston, TX Sophomore Elected to transfer to Abilene Christian Will Anderson Jr. #31 LB 6’4, 243 Hampton, GA Junior Declared for 2023 NFL draft Bret Bolin #36 WR 6'0, 176 Lemont, IL Senior Complete college eligibility Demouy Kennedy #37 LB 6'3, 220 Theodore, AL Junior Elected to transfer to Colorado Jaylen Moody #42 LB 6'2, 225 Conway, SC Senior Completed college eligibility Byron Young #47 DL 6’3, 292 Laurel, MS Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft Gabe Pugh #50 LS 6'5, 273 Tuscaloosa, AL Junior Elected to transfer to Louisiana Tech Tanner Bowles #51 OL 6'5, 293 Glasgow, KY Junior Elected to transfer to Kentucky Tyler Steen #54 G 6’5, 315 Miami, FL Grad Student Complete college eligibility Emil Ekiyor Jr. #55 OL 6’3, 307 Indianapolis, IN Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft Tommy Brockermeyer #58 OL 6'5, 292 Fort Worth, TX Freshman Elected to transfer to TCU Kendall Randolph #60 OL 6’4, 298 Madison, AL Grad Student Completed college eligibility Jackson Roby #62 OL 6’5, 285 Huntsville, AL Senior Completed college eligibility Javion Cohen #70 OL 6'4, 305 Phenix City, AL Junior Elected to transfer to Miami Damieon George #74 OL 6’6, 333 Houston, TX Junior Elected to transfer to Florida Amari Kight #78 DL 6'7, 322 Alabaster, AL Junior Elected to transfer to UCF Cameron Latu #81 TE 6'5, 244 Salt Lake City, UT Senior Graduated/Declared for 2023 NFL draft Elijah Brown #85 TE 6'5, 230 Dayton, OH Freshman Elected to transfer to Florida Atlantic Grant Krieger #89 WR 6’2, 192 Pittsburgh, PA Senior Complete college eligibility D. J. Dale #94 DT 6'3, 300 Birmingham, AL Senior Graduated/2023 NFL draft Jack Martin #95 P/K 6'2, 207 Dothan, AL Junior Elected to transfer to Houston Braylen Ingraham #97 DL 6'4, 298 Fort Lauderdale, FL Sophomore Elected to transfer to Syracuse
Transfer portal
Outgoing transfers 21 Alabama players elected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal during or after the 2022 season.
NameNo.Pos.Height/WeightHometownYearCollege transferred toSources Khyree Jackson #6 CB 6’3, 198 Upper Marlboro, MD Junior Oregon Trey Sanders #6 RB 6’0, 214 Port Saint Joe, FL Junior TCU Tyler Harrell #8 WR 6'0, 197 Miami, FL Junior Miami JoJo Earle #10 WR 5'10, 177 Aledo, TX Sophomore TCU Traeshon Holden #11 WR 6’1, 190 Hollywood, FL Junior Oregon Christian Leary #12 WR 5’10, 175 Orlando, FL Sophomore Georgia Tech Aaron Anderson #13 WR 5'9, 184 New Orleans, LA Freshman LSU Trequon Fegans #22 DB 6'2, 185 Alabaster, AL Freshman USC Jahquez Robinson #23 DB 6'2, 199 Jacksonville, FL Junior Colorado Rodney Johnson #27 CB 5'11, 160 Gadsden, AL Freshman TBD Elijah Crockett #29 RB 5'11, 210 Chino Hills, CA Sophomore TBD --- Jacoby Boykins #30 WR 5'11, 182 Houston, TX Sophomore Abilene Christian Demouy Kennedy #37 LB 6'3, 220 Theodore, AL Junior Colorado Gabe Pugh #50 LS 6'5, 273 Tuscaloosa, AL Junior Louisiana Tech Tanner Bowles #51 OL 6'5, 293 Glasgow, KY Junior Kentucky Tommy Brockermeyer #58 OT 6'5, 292 Fort Worth, TX Freshman TCU Javion Cohen #70 OL 6'4, 305 Phenix City, AL Junior Miami Damieon George #74 OL 6’6, 333 Houston, TX Junior Florida Amari Kight #78 DL 6'7, 322 Alabaster, AL Junior UCF Elijah Brown #85 TE 6'5, 230 Dayton, OH Freshman Florida Atlantic Jack Martin #95 P/K 6'2, 207 Dothan, AL Junior Houston Braylen Ingraham #97 DL 6'4, 298 Fort Lauderdale, FL Sophomore Syracuse Jamil Burroughs #98 DL 6'3, 309 Power Springs, GA Junior TBD
Note: Players with a dash in the new school column didn't land on a new team for the 2023 season.
Incoming transfers Over the off-season, Alabama added six players from the transfer portal. According to 247 Sports, Alabama had the No. 60 ranked transfer class in the country.
NameNo.Pos.Height/WeightYearHometownPre. schoolSources Jaylen Key #1 DB 6'2, 210 Junior Tallahassee, FL UAB Tyler Buchner #12 QB 6'1, 215 Junior San Diego, CA Notre Dame Trezmen Marshall #15 LB 6'1, 230 Junior Homerville, GA Georgia CJ Dippre #18 TE 6'5, 260 Sophomore Scranton, PA Maryland Trey Amos #21 CB 6'1, 197 Sophomore New Iberia, LA Louisiana Colby McNeal #59 TE 6'5, 250 Sophomore Dothan, AL Colorado State
Returning starters
+ Offense Player Class Position Jase McClellan Senior Running Back Jermaine Burton Senior Wide receiver Seth McLaughlin Senior Offensive LineReference:
+Defense Player Class Position Dallas Turner Junior Linebacker Kool-Aid McKinstry Junior Cornerback Jaheim Oatis Sophomore Defensive line Malachi Moore Senior Defensive BackReference:
+ Special teams Player Class Position Will Reichard Grad Student Kicker James Burnip Sophomore PunterReference:
* Bowl game not played. ^ Waiting decision for 2023 season. † Indicates player was a starter in 2021 but missed all of 2022 due to injury.
Recruiting class
Alabama signed 29 players in the class of 2023. The Crimson Tide' recruiting class ranks No. 1 in the 247Sports and Rivals rankings. 23 signees were ranked in the ESPN 300 top prospect list. Alabama also signed walk-ons during national signing period.
2023 Overall class rankings
ESPN #1 #1 5 19 4 On3 Recruits #1 #1 9 19 2 Rivals #1 #1 4 20 1 247 Sports #1 #1 7 20 1
Entered NFL draft
Bryce Young QB Will Anderson Jr. LB Jahmyr Gibbs RB Brian Branch S
Walk-ons Name Pos. Height/Weight Hometown High school Sawyer Deerman ATH 5'10, 175 Northport, AL Tuscaloosa County High School Braylon Chatman LB 6'0, 215 Trussville, AL Hewitt-Trussville High School JR Gardner ATH 6'3, 280 Gulf Shores, AL Gulf Shores High School Reed Harradine P 6'3, 185 Birmingham, AL Mountain Brook High School Brock O'Quinn LS 6'1, 210 Southlake, TX Southlake Carroll High School Kolby Peavy ATH 6'1, 180 Excel, AL Excel High School Billy Roby OL 5'11, 245 Huntsville, AL Huntsville High School Antonio Ross WR 6'2, 180 Alexandria, AL Alexandria High School Joey Temen WR 5'11, 165 Davenport, FL Ridge Community High School
2024 Recruiting class
.
*= 247Sports Composite rating; ratings are out of 1.00. (five stars= 1.00–.98, four stars= .97–.90, three stars= .80–.89) †= Despite being rated as a four and five star recruit by ESPN, On3.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, Sayin received a five star 247Sports Composite rating. Δ= Left the Alabama program following signing but prior to the 2024 season.
2024 Overall class rankings
ESPN – – 2 16 8 32 On3 Recruits #2 #2 4 18 6 28 Rivals #2 #2 4 17 7 28 247 Sports #3 #2 4 24 6 34
Preseason
Spring game
The Crimson Tide are scheduled to hold spring practices in March and April 2023 with the Alabama football spring game, "A-Day" to take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on April 22, 2023, with the Crimson team beating the White team 30–21.
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyKool-Aid McKinstry DBJr. Malachi MooreSr.Dodd TrophyNick SabanHC –Maxwell AwardJase McClellan RBSr.Patrick Mannelly AwardKneeland HibbettLSJr.Bronko Nagurski TrophyKool-Aid McKinstry DB Malachi Moore Sr.Dallas Turner LBJr.Outland TrophyTyler BookerOLSo. JC Latham Jr.Jaheim Oatis DLSo.Lou Groza AwardWill ReichardKGr. John Mackey AwardCJ DippreTE Jr.Rimington TrophySeth McLaughlinOLSr.Wuerffel TrophyMalachi Moore DB Butkus AwardDeontae Lawson LBRS So. Jim Thorpe AwardKool-Aid McKinstryDB Jr. Walter Camp Award Bednarik Award Dallas Turner LBRotary Lombardi Award JC LathamOLEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardJase McClellan RB Sr.
SEC media days The 2023 SEC Media days were held on July 17–20, 2023 at Grand Hyatt in Nashville, TN. The Preseason Polls were released July 2023. Each team had their head coach available to talk to the media at the event on July 19, 2023, with Nick Saban (HC), JC Latham, (OL), Kool-Aid McKinstry, (DB) and Dallas Turner, (LB). Coverage of the event was televised on SEC Network and ESPN.
Media poll (West Division) 1 Alabama (165) 1899 2 LSU (117) 1838 3 Texas A&M (1) 1144 4 Ole Miss 1128 5 Arkansas (3) 958 6 Auburn (4) 685 7 Mississippi State (1) 496
Media poll (SEC Championship) 1 Georgia 181 2 Alabama 62 3 LSU 31
Preseason All-SEC teams and All-American honors
Media First Team