At least one Power Four head coach didn’t think Alabama football belonged in the Top 25 after their 9-4 season and disappointing loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.
That would be Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch. USA TODAY Sports this week released the final Coaches Poll ballots for all 53 coaches (both Power Four and Group of Five) who made up the poll in 2024.
Fisch, who guided the Huskies to a 6-7 season in his first year in Seattle, took over for Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer after DeBoer left Washington for Tuscaloosa. Fisch was the only Power Four coach who didn’t have Alabama on his final Top 25 ballot.
Three Group of Five coaches excluded Alabama from their final ballots, as well: New Mexico’s Bronco Mendenhall, San Jose State’s Ken Niumatalolo, UNLV’s Barry Odom, and former Nick Saban assistant Lance Taylor (Western Michigan).
As for which coaches ranked Alabama the highest, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason (now at Middle Tennessee State) both ranked the Crimson Tide No. 11. Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart had Alabama at No. 12 in his final ballot, as did Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman.
Among other coaches of note: Ohio State Buckeyes national championship coach Ryan Day had Alabama at No. 19 in his final ballot, while DeBoer himself ranked the Crimson Tide No. 15.
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