Alabama Right Where It Needs to Be in 2015 Preseason Amway Coaches Top 25 Poll

When it comes to preseason polls and season expectations, there's essentially only one thing Nick Saban hopes for, and that is for his team to control its own destiny.

Thursday morning, when the preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released, he got what he wanted: No. 3. Alabama is still easily within striking distance without having to carry the burden of being No. 1.

No one knows better what a heavy burden that can be. This is the first time since 2009 that Alabama is not first or second in the preseason coaches poll, snapping an incredible five-year run but extending its streak of top-five preseason rankings to seven years.  

But the last two times Alabama came out of the gate at No. 1, it failed to finish with that same designation. 

Year	Preseason	Final
2008	NR	6
2009	5	1
2010	1	11
2011	2	1
2012	2	1
2013	1	8
2014	2	4
2015	3	?

Overall, Alabama received one first-place vote and scored 1,452 points in the preseason poll, putting it a lot closer to No. 2 TCU (1,487) than No. 4 Baylor (1,365). It's listed first among eight ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference and five from the Western Division.

It's slated to face seven ranked opponents, including No. 7 Auburn and No. 9 Georgia on the road, along with the two teams receiving the most votes outside of the Top 25 during the regular season. 

For the most part, the No. 3 ranking was largely expected and on par with where most of the preseason publications and predictions had Alabama starting out, with all but Sporting News having the Crimson Tide in the Top Four.

That's the equivalent of being a playoff team.

In that respect, it's business as usual for the Crimson Tide in terms of being considered a serious contender for the national championship.

They have been nearly every year since Saban arrived, with three national championship and three league titles in tow.

"We're not allowed to have a bad season because the fans will let you know when you're playing badly," Alabama senior linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "We have to have the right mindset at all times because the players that came before us instilled something that we have to keep finishing and keep going on. We've had Dont'a Hightower, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas. Those guys paved the way for how we are in the weight room and the locker room."

Last year, Alabama was the top seed when the inaugural playoff pairings were announced but was upset by Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, 42-35. Not surprisingly, the Buckeyes head into the fall ranked No. 1.

But Alabama does have its detractors.

For example, in the voting for the predicted order of finish at SEC media days, Auburn was selected to win the conference title, but Alabama was slated to win the SEC West (which would make it impossible for the Tigers to play in the championship game).

Service/Poll	Ranking
Amway Coaches Poll	3
Athlon	2
College Football News	4
ESPN FPI	2
Lindy's	3
Sporting News	5
Phil Steele	4

Alabama has just 12 returning starters, with seven on defense, two on offense and three on special teams. The coaches have yet to name a starting quarterback, and it arguably has the toughest schedule in college football, beginning with Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 5 (8 p.m. ET).

It obviously has a lot going for it as well, including a defense that could feature a monstrous front seven, a backfield with enormous potential and a seemingly never-ending stream of top-rated recruiting classes.

One almost can't spit in the locker room without hitting a player who used to be rated a 5-star recruit. According to 247Sports, there are 18 on the roster (16 if you go by its composite rankings).

Granted, whoever does win the quarterback competition will be a first-year starter, as Blake Sims was last season. He went from being a player without a position his initial two years—first getting a look at running back, wide receiver and in the secondary before focusing on quarterback—to helping Lane Kiffin rewrite the Crimson Tide record book.

Imagine what the offensive coordinator might come up with his second season.

Regardless, the expectations don't change.

"It's cliche here, but it is the process," Alabama senior center Ryan Kelly said. "Everyone wants to talk about it, but it's the real thing. No matter who you bring in, we aren't going to change our standards for who you are. This is the 'Bama way. This is a special place. It's not for everybody to come to.

"I think that is one of the biggest things Coach Saban has drilled in is that if you come here, you are a part of something bigger than you. Every guy who has had success here has partaken in that. All the success, the way he recruits—you can't get around it, the hard work, the dedication, and he's taught me to be a good person as well."

So No. 3 will be just fine for Alabama; just don't bet against the Crimson Tide.

After all, this is still the same program that's been favored in 68 straight games, which is considered a modern record, and the last time it didn't start out No. 1 or 2, it won the national championship anyway.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer.

Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.