Alabama did not make the College Football Playoff this past season, and that’s almost certainly going to mean extra motivation for head coach Nick Saban’s team in 2023.

The Crimson Tide has been the premier program in college football, and it seems quite likely that Alabama will put together a team that is good enough to return to the College Football Playoff next season.

Normally, a team that loses a quarterback like Bryce Young to the NFL is not necessarily going to return to glory right away, but the Crimson Tide has a powerful cast of returning athletes and the recruiting pipeline remains at or near the top of the college football world.

Young is likely to be one of the top picks in the NFL Draft this spring, and the Crimson Tide will turn to Jalen Milroe to be their next star at quarterback. If injuries or disappointing play become factors, Ty Simpson should have a chance to step up. Additionally, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan will also have a chance to show what they can do if Milroe and Simpson fail to stay healthy

Jalen Milroe

Milroe has the first crack at the starting quarterback position and it would be a major surprise if he doesn’t open the season under center. Milroe is a 6-2, 201-pound athlete from Katy, Texas. He is big enough to shake off tackles and athletic enough to make plays with his feet.

Milroe appeared in eight games this season and completed 58.4% of his passes for 297 yards, but he did throw 3 interceptions. He is a powerful runner, and he gained 265 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown.