Thanks to the likes of Texas, Ohio State and others, the NIL and transfer portal era can make for rough sailing for Alabama football.

Alabama football no longer has the top ACC running back in the fold. Hollywood Smothers, who initially announced he'd transferred to the Crimson Tide from NC State, reportedly flipped his transfer to Texas with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Then, Steve Sarkisian’s football team scored two major transfer portal victories, earning former Auburn wideout Cam Coleman’s commitment after he had visited Tuscaloosa. Running back Hollywood Smothers, who had committed to Alabama from NC State earlier in the portal cycle, then flipped to Texas.

Alabama football has another piece in place for its 2026 offensive line. Multiple outlets reported Monday that a second offensive lineman from Michigan will join the Crimson Tide.

Former NC State running back Hollywood Smothers flips from Alabama to Texas in the college football transfer portal

Haywood is the latest offensive lineman from Michigan to join Alabama via the transfer portal. The Crimson Tide also secured a commitment from interior offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn earlier in January.

Keeping up with the offseason transfer portal activity for the Alabama Crimson Tide program after year two of the Kalen DeBoer era.

Ty Simpson considers a record-breaking $6.5 million offer to return to the collegiate level as Alabama football reloads with Noah Rogers.