10 major storylines for the 2023 college football season

Is Alabama still Alabama?

Every few years, when Alabama goes without winning a title and some other program seems to have emerged, we ask “Is the dynasty finally over?”. And every time, the Tide respond with another remarkable season to put a pause to those questions.

But for the first time since Saban first brought a title to Tuscaloosa, it actually feels like there may be a crack in the dynasty’s foundation.

Alabama hasn’t become “bad” by any means. Despite some struggles throughout the 2021 season, they won the SEC and played for the national title. They were just a few plays away from a potential playoff berth in 2022. But they were also just a few plays away from 8-4.

The weekly dominance is no longer present. It’s not just the SEC’s contenders challenging the Tide. The middle class has tested them as well.

With an uninspiring QB battle taking place and a greater lack of star power than we’re accustomed to with Bama, it feels like if there were ever a year that they took a true step back, it’d be this one. That feels especially true with reigning SEC West champion LSU bringing back nearly every major contributor.

But you can’t shake the feeling that this is exactly when Alabama comes out and reminds the CFB world who’s the boss. And while the roster lacks the typical known-commodities, the Tide still lead the way in 247 Sports’ ”Blue-Chip Ratio”, with 90% of their roster being made up of four and five star recruits.

While the schedule is tricky, Alabama’s three toughest 2023 opponents in Texas, Tennessee, and LSU have to come to Tuscaloosa. And despite so many questions, Nick Saban appears to be in an unusually good mood for this time of year, which On3’s Andy Staples suggests could be a bad sign for the rest of CFB.