The dynasty isn't dead. Let's rid ourselves of the suspense right now.

Mighty Alabama is still mighty Alabama. Sure, it's been a couple of years since the Crimson Tide have won a title. But Nick Saban, fresh off securing one of the greatest recruiting classes college football has ever seen, is likely to be a force a while longer.

Still, many questions exist regarding the state of one of the sport's most dominant programs. With a massive talent exodus looming, a new coaching staff being put together and an increase in competition from the top down, this is a pivotal moment for a program most coaches have spent the last decade trying to emulate.

If you've been looking for the proper time to doubt Alabama, this could be your moment. At the very least, there are enough moving parts to question just where things stand with this living, breathing dynasty.

The Departure of Greatness

Let's not sugarcoat it. Bryce Young covered up a lot of Alabama's issues last season. From dealing with an inexperienced wide receiver group to an offensive line that struggled at times, Young excelled when he was on the field.

The same can be said about Will Anderson Jr., the Crimson Tide's standout linebacker. Anderson will leave as one of the most decorated defensive players of the Saban era—a claim that is not easily made when you consider just how much talent has gone through the program.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive backs Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, Eli Ricks and linebacker Henry To'oTo'o are other key contributors heading out of the program. This ritual has become normalized at Alabama. Great players leave, and then great players replace them.

Each time there has been an exodus, there has been a line of voices declaring this the potential end of an era. (Those claims have obviously not worked out very well.)

But the departures of Young and Anderson, two of the greatest players in Alabama history, is noteworthy. They weren't just impact players at crucial positions; they were vocal leaders beloved by Saban.