Alabama’s Transfer Portal Standing Raises Eyebrows, But the Full Story Is Still Unfolding
In Tuscaloosa, the word “loser” doesn’t sit well-especially when it’s attached to Alabama football. So when the Crimson Tide landed on a list of the top five “losers” in the current transfer portal cycle, alongside programs like Tennessee, Utah, Colorado, and Iowa State, it understandably sparked some frustration among fans.
The assessment, which comes in the middle of an evolving portal cycle, feels a bit premature. After all, the window for players to enter the portal hasn’t even closed yet, and the Tide’s roster movement is far from finished.
Alabama is expected to be active in the coming weeks, with several key needs still to address-especially at offensive tackle and the bandit position, where starting-caliber talent is a must. Add in the need for depth at wide receiver and perhaps another offensive lineman, and it’s clear the Tide’s work in the portal is far from over.
It’s also worth noting that while Alabama has plenty of young talent at inside linebacker, bringing in a veteran presence could help stabilize the position. The bottom line: this is a roster still under construction. And with head coach Kalen DeBoer now steering the ship, there’s every reason to believe reinforcements are on the way.
Transfer Rankings Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Right now, Alabama sits at No. 57 in the national transfer rankings. That number might not jump off the page, especially for a program accustomed to top-10 finishes in just about everything.
But transfer rankings can be a tricky metric. They’re heavily weighted toward outgoing production-players who’ve already proven themselves-and they don’t always account for how incoming transfers will fit into a new system or culture.
Programs like Alabama and Georgia often avoid splashy, headline-grabbing portal moves. They’re not chasing the “Portal King” label.
Instead, they’re more surgical-targeting specific needs rather than overhauling the roster. That approach may not win the offseason headlines, but it often pays off when the games actually matter.
In 2024, the Tide brought in 14 transfers. Over the past four cycles (2022-2025), the total stands at 35.
That’s a steady, measured approach-especially compared to programs that bring in 20 or more players in a single cycle. This time around, DeBoer has already added 13 transfers, though one is a preferred walk-on and doesn’t count toward the official rankings.
For context, Alabama’s portal rankings in the past three completed cycles were No. 66, No. 55, and No.
- This year, they’re on track to land somewhere in the top 50, with Georgia currently sitting at No.
- That’s not elite company by ranking standards, but again, the rankings don’t always reflect the full picture-especially for programs that prioritize fit and development over flash.
The 'Big Bag' Philosophy-and Why Alabama Isn’t Playing That Game
One of the underlying narratives in this portal cycle is the rise of the so-called “big bag” programs-teams willing to shell out major NIL money to land top-tier transfers. Alabama, by design, isn’t one of them.
That stance might have cost them a few high-profile names. Cam Coleman chose another path, and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton is rumored to command a deal north of $3.5 million-money that likely won’t be coming from Tuscaloosa. Unless there’s a significant shift in both financial backing and roster-building philosophy, Alabama seems content to stay out of the big-money arms race.
As Clint Lamb pointed out, Alabama isn’t interested in becoming a “big bag” program. That’s a conscious decision-one rooted in long-term stability rather than short-term splashes. And while that might lead to some misses in the portal, it also reinforces a culture that values development, fit, and team-first mentality over bidding wars.
Final Word
Labeling Alabama a transfer portal “loser” at this stage is a risky call. The Tide still have moves to make, and with DeBoer settling into his new role, the full vision for this roster hasn’t come into focus yet. Alabama may not be dominating the portal headlines, but don’t mistake that for complacency.
This is still Alabama. And while the approach may be evolving, the standard remains the same.