As the Alabama football team has started the season with impressive wins over East Carolina and Kentucky in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, the program is looking to achieve new heights in 2026. Though there could be some who downplay the dominant wins by the Alabama football program, one believer in the team is analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

Speaking on his show “Nonstop,” Herbstreit emphasized how he has been “really impressed” with the Crimson Tide in the first two weeks of the season. He would emphasize the win over the Wildcats this past Saturday, citing how tough Kentucky was playing them at home.

“I was really impressed with Alabama, honestly, because Alabama continues to show how challenging it is after the Nick Saban-era, based on the optics and the perception,” Herbstreit said. “And they went into that environment … and Kentucky kept coming. I mean, they just kept playing them … I mean, Kentucky’s winning this game at halftime … and then Alabama, to their credit, you got an inexperienced quarterback, throws a couple picks. They’re on the road, but Daniel Hill over 100 yards rushing; they took the crowd out of the game.

Texas STUNS Ohio State, Oregon UPSET, and Week 2 Chaos | NONSTOP EP. 22 https://t.co/sP4GbZd2Kp

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 14, 2026

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Kirk Herbstreit praises resolve of Alabama football team over Kentucky

While the 45-17 win for the Alabama football team against Kentucky was lopsided on paper, the first half saw the Wildcats take a 17-13 lead, as the Crimson Tide took the game away in the second half with 32 unanswered points. Herbstreit emphasized this aspect, giving credit to quarterback Keelon Russell.

“Give Alabama all the credit because they did get tested and they did respond. And I think, with a young quarterback, hit some adversity. Again, it’s all about growing in the non-conference, and these early conference games, and that’s what Alabama did. So I feel a lot better about who Alabama is, only because of the environment that they were in, and because they were trailing in the first half on the road and had to respond.”

At any rate, the Alabama football team looks to be 3-0 as Week 3 has the program facing the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday.