Posted by: Chris Vannini on September 5, 2012

Troy Calhoun likes Alabama.

No, he really, really likes Alabama.

This past basketball season, we had to debate about whether or not Kentucky could defeat the Charlotte Bobcats. One week into football season, some are debating whether or not Alabama could play with an NFL team following its demolition of Michigan.

Calhoun believes the Crimson Tide would have more than a puncher's chance.

"Hands down, I think the most talented team in all of football right now is Alabama," Calhoun said, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. "That includes the New England Patriots. They're close to there."

The Tide are obviously coming off an impressive win on the opening weekend, but an NFL team? Calhoun wasn't joking, either. Asked on the Mountain West coaches teleconference if Michigan would be licking its wounds, Calhoun again said Alabama is the most talented team in football, adding, "I'm serious about that, too."

Calhoun's Air Force team takes on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor this weekend.

You can listen to Calhoun's remarks about Alabama at the 4:15 mark of this audio.

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Chris Vannini is a lead writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered Michigan State sports for The State News, The Oakland Press and MLive.com. He writes a weekly column for the Detroit Free Press on behalf of SB Nation. Vannini lives in Big Ten country, so his foot speed is far from SEC caliber, but his pulse on coaches is hard to match. Be sure to follow @CoachingBuzz on twitter and send your feedback to chris@coachingsearch.com