Imagine having this conversation, even a few years ago.

Frankly, there wouldn't be a discussion. The answer would be easy as to who's most likely to win a national championship next. Alabama football would be the easy and clear choice. With arguably the best coach in the history of college football leading the way in Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide was always in contention. Plus, just a few short years ago, Alabama basketball wasn't exactly seen as a true national championship contender.

My, how fast Nate Oats changed that.

Fresh off the first Final Four in program history this past April, the Crimson Tide will enter the 2024-25 season with a legitimate chance to win it all. Meanwhile, Saban is no longer the coach, having retired this offseason after 17 seasons leading Alabama.

As a result, the answer to who will win a national championship next becomes much less clear.

KALEN DEBOER: To understand Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, you need to know Bob Young

NATE OATS: Inside Nate Oats' long-winding journey to the Final Four

Now, that's not to say Kalen DeBoer won't win one soon. Heck, a season ago, he was coaching in the national championship game with a Washington team less talented than the one he has now in Tuscaloosa. But he will have a tougher path than Saban did; the College Football Playoff is expanding this season. As a result, a team could have to win at least one more game than before, if not two.

If a team doesn't get a first-round bye as part of the CFP, it would have to win four games in the playoff to win a national championship.

Of course, that's still two fewer than it takes to win a national championship in basketball.

The path through the NCAA Tournament to the Final Four and the national championship is far from easy, despite how UConn made it look the past two seasons. You often need matchups to go your way, have balls bounce your way and make the right decisions in critical moments, among other factors.

Then again, top talent paired with strong coaching can minimize reliance on lucky breaks. UConn has shown that to be the case recently. Alabama looks to have both the players and the coaching, particularly this season. It has top-tier talent (Mark Sears, Cliff Omoruyi, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., etc). It has Oats, who has won four SEC titles over five seasons and made the NCAA Tournament in all but one season (his first) while reaching the Sweet 16 in three of four appearances. It's also got key staff members such as assistant coaches Ryan Pannone, Preston Murphy and Adam Bauman.

There's never been a time to be more optimistic for Alabama basketball's chances to win a national title. But will it? And will it do so before Alabama football?

DeBoer has won everywhere he has been. He's got a ridiculous career record of 104-12, and he's never been at a place with the resources and talent like Alabama. Until he proves otherwise, there's no reason to believe he can't win a national championship with the Crimson Tide. Again, not an easy task. But Alabama has the resources and support to win national championships in football. It's not some pipe dream, even with a different coach. It's the standard.

Both programs are equipped and strong enough to be in contention for national titles this season. Will they? Maybe, maybe not. But both programs figure to be among the top ten teams in their respective sports, if not top five.

Who wins their respective race to a national championship first remains to be seen. The good news for Alabama fans is that both have a shot.

Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football or basketball: Who wins national championship next?