Alabama could be in trouble in the new era of college football opening. They don't have the donor support to compete.
Alabama is licking its wounds after a 38-3 loss to No. 1 Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Following the defeat to the eventual national champion Hoosiers and losses to Texas in the transfer portal, ESPN's Paul Finebaum suggested the Crimson Tide could be in trouble if they don't find donor support to keep up with big spenders.
"It's not a shock about being outspent," Finebaum said.
"I think the real problem for Alabama is what can be done about it, because you now have a coach who suffered the worst loss in modern Alabama history, and he's going to have to galvanize people and inspire people to dig deep."
Texas Tech's billionaire booster Cody Campbell noted that Alabama and Auburn are struggling to keep up with SEC teams like Texas because they lack donor support.
“I'll just give you an example: it’s just like you can look at the Transfer Portal ratings right now, and schools like Alabama and Auburn are struggling," Campbell said on Will Cain Country.
"You know, they don't have the booster support, and I hit, you know, nothing against Alabama. I have a ton of respect for that program, but they can't raise the money like the University of Texas can."
Campbell thinks Blue Blood programs like Alabama are going away in favor of programs that go all-in to buy players and win championships.
“Well, what's happened is that the identity of the Blue Bloods is just changing, right?" Campbell said. "So certain schools that have historically been really good or have a great brand or have won a lot of national championships in the past won't anymore.
"And it's going to be those schools that have the financial resources that will. And so you'll start to see Indiana show up every year. And people say I'm kind of tired of seeing Indiana, you know, after a while. And so you're just trading one group of blue bloods for another essentially.”
Alabama will need to either outspend like Texas, Ohio State, and Oregon do. Or, head coach Kalen DeBoer will have to be crafty with how he pays for his roster.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti brought in players from James Madison with a chip on their shoulder.
The Crimson Tide might have to do the same.