The Alabama Crimson Tide opened the 2026 college football season in impressive fashion over the weekend.
Keelon Russell accounted for 342 yards of offense in his first career start, the defense held East Carolina to five first downs, and the Crimson Tide rolled to a 48-10 victory over the Pirates at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
Russell completed 18 of his 30 passes for 256 yards and ran for another 86 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Ryan Coleman-Williams had a good day, minus a couple of the dropped balls that plagued him all of last season. The junior receiver caught five passes for 130 yards, including a 58-yard reception in the first half.
Alabama's defense also looked the part in Week 1. The Crimson Tide held East Carolina to 162
yards of total offense, including just two net yards on the groun.
SEC play begins early for Alabama, which heads to Lexington for its Week 2 showdown against Kentucky on Saturday. In the meantime, here's a look at where the Crimson Tide are ranked in Tuesday's new US LBM Coaches Poll.
Where does Alabama football rank in new Coaches Poll?
Alabama is ranked No. 12 in the Week 2 US LBM Coaches Poll, one spot below its preseason ranking. The Crimson Tide are ranked one spot below the Ole Miss Rebels and one spot ahead of the Texas Ted Red Raiders. LSU, which blasted Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin's debut, moved up five spots to No. 8 and moved past Alabama
Alabama is the seventh highest-ranked SEC team in the top 12 of the rankings.
US LBM Coaches Poll rankings after Week 2
The full Week 2 top 25 rankings in the US LBM Coaches Poll are below.
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Clemson;
Others Receiving Votes
Louisville 125; Illinois 45; Boise State 43; Arizona 42; South Carolina 36; Memphis 24; Auburn 19; Vanderbilt 17; Pittsburgh 14; Virginia Tech 11; Nebraska 11; Arizona State 11; Minnesota 9; Western Michigan 7; New Mexico 7; North Dakota State 6; Kansas State 6; Navy 5; UCLA 4; Duke 4; UNLV 3; Clemson 3; San Diego State 2; North Carolina 2; Colorado 1;
Updated SEC power rankings following huge Week 1 for conference
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) September 7, 2026
📸 SCOTT CLAUSE/USATODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/tpI4KpI2xb pic.twitter.com/gU0JlWLf6p
Alabama football schedule 2026
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina Pirates (W, 48-10)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky Wildcats, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State Seminoles, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, prime time
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State Bulldogs, early window
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia Bulldogs, prime time
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee Volunteers, TBA
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M Aggies, TBA
- Nov. 7: at LSU Tigers, TBA
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt Commodores, TBA
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn Tigers, TBA
Record: 1-0.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Did Alabama football rise or fall in US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 1?
