ESPN’s has come out with its updated Football Power Index for the 2022 season, and released projections for each team, including Alabama.

Nick Saban’s team is projected to win 11.3 games and lose 1.5. The Crimson Tide also have an 84.9 percent chance to win the SEC West, and a 49.6 percent chance to win the SEC. Similarly, Alabama is projected to have a 79.3 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff, and a 51.6 percent chance of making the national championship.

In the top 25, 9 SEC teams are included.

In a companion piece to the FPI release, ESPN noted that “remember, it’s just mid-April and real college football games are still months away, so if your team isn’t in the top 10, top 25 or even top 100, there’s still time to turn it around as the season approaches. Georgia came in at No. 7 in last year’s initial FPI rankings, so keep the faith.”

Alabama opens the season on Sept. 3 against Utah State, but the first game of national interest will come the following week, Sept. 10, against Texas. There will be plenty of attention on former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who is still looking for his starting quarterback. But keep an eye on wide receiver Xavier Worthy as a playmaker for Alabama to defend.

SEC play for Alabama opens Sept. 24 against Vanderbilt.