Alabama extends historic drought outside top 10 in latest AP Top 25 poll
By Keith Farner
Published:
Alabama has not been in this position in the AP Top 25 poll since Nick Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa in 2007.
Alabama held steady at No. 11 this week in the latest AP Poll after it beat Arkansas, and that extended its streak of being out of the top 10 to 5 weeks. It’s unfamiliar territory, similar to other aspects about this season for the Crimson Tide.
The Crimson Tide dropped out for the first time since 2015 on Sept. 17, when they fell to a season-low No. 13 after an uneven performance in a victory over South Florida. Alabama has won 5 straight since a Week 2 loss to Texas.
The Tide have not spent this much of a season out of the top 10 since 2007, Nick Saban’s first as coach, when Alabama finished 7-6.
This week, the Tide welcome Tennessee to Tuscaloosa, and then play host to LSU, a pair of games that will have some weight in future polling.
The Vols are No. 17, and the Tigers sit at No. 19.
Alabama has not been out of the top 15 since Nov. 28, 2010, when the Tide lost to Auburn in their regular-season finale to fall to No. 17 at 9-3.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
