Blog Article
Alabama Football 2025 Season Preview: The Year Everything Must Come Together
Alabama football’s 2025 season will define Kalen DeBoer’s tenure.
After a 9-4 debut that fell short of Alabama’s championship standards, the second-year head coach faces immense pressure to return the program to playoff contention. The message from the college football world is crystal clear: another disappointing campaign won’t be tolerated in Tuscaloosa.
As one anonymous SEC coach told Athlon Sports, “Going 9-4 isn’t going to be tolerated at Alabama for very long. The expectations define this place.”
The Foundation Exists, But the Cracks Are Showing
Alabama’s 2024 season revealed a program caught between elite talent and inconsistent execution.
The numbers tell the story of a team that dominated at home but struggled when it mattered most:
- 7-0 at home, averaging 472 yards and 42.3 points per game
- 2-3 on the road, averaging just 353.8 yards and 19.6 points per game
- 2.5 turnovers per game in losses vs. 1.2 turnovers per game in wins
- Critical giveaways cost them against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Michigan
Expert Cody Goodwin from Bama247 put it bluntly: “Gotta make the playoffs. They did not make the playoffs last year. You can’t leave it up to chance like that. You gotta find a way to drive the hammer home.”
The talent was there, but the results weren’t.
The Quarterback Question That Changes Everything
Everything hinges on one position.
Jalen Milroe’s departure leaves a massive void after his 36 total touchdowns and 3,570 scrimmage yards in 2024. As that anonymous SEC coach noted, “The biggest question will be quarterback, obviously.”
Three quarterbacks will battle for the starting job:
- Ty Simpson: Third-year player with the most experience in the system
- Austin Mack: Washington transfer who followed DeBoer but has limited game action
- Keelon Russell: Five-star freshman ranked as the No. 1 player in the country by Rivals
Russell represents the most intriguing option. The Duncanville, Texas native threw for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns with just four interceptions as a senior. According to 247Sports, Russell ranks as the highest-rated recruit to ever sign with Alabama.
DeBoer made his expectations clear: “I think a lot of it is, we want that playmaker. We want that guy. I don’t want just a game manager out there.”
The quarterback competition will determine Alabama’s ceiling.
Strategic Roster Building Through the Portal
Alabama attacked their weaknesses with surgical precision.
Rather than chasing stars, the Crimson Tide made calculated additions to address specific problems from 2024:
- Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green: Second-leading tackler at Colorado with 82 stops
- Texas A&M G Kam Dewberry: Proven guard to shore up offensive line depth
- Four-star OT recruits Jackson Lloyd and Mal Waldrep: Future building blocks
The offensive line received particular attention after allowing 25 sacks in 2024. Alabama’s inability to protect the quarterback and establish consistent rushing on the road directly contributed to their most devastating losses.
“He’s got an opportunity to make a pretty big impact this season,” Goodwin said about Hill-Green. “He offers a lot in the way of speed. He’s a pretty sure tackler.”
This wasn’t roster building for the sake of it—this was problem-solving.
A Schedule That Demands Immediate Excellence
The 2025 schedule will test every improvement Alabama has made.
Opening at Florida State on August 30 marks the first time Alabama begins a season on the road since the 2020 season. But the real test comes three weeks later at Georgia on September 27.
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt explained the stakes: “This is a huge early test for Kalen DeBoer in year two. If Bama wins by the way, there’s a bunch of winnable games after this.”
The schedule breakdown reveals both opportunity and danger:
Key Home Games:
- LSU (November 8)
- Oklahoma (November 15)
- Tennessee (October 18)
Critical Road Tests:
- Florida State (August 30)
- Georgia (September 27)
- South Carolina (October 25)
- Auburn (November 29)
Alabama holds a 10-game home winning streak against Tennessee dating back to 2003. The Iron Bowl at Auburn presents a chance to win three consecutive games at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in series history.
Every game matters when playoff selection is on the line.
Defensive Identity Under Kane Wommack
The defense showed flashes of dominance but needs to finish plays.
Alabama forced 28 takeaways in 2024, ranking sixth nationally with 18 interceptions. However, they managed just 25 sacks and failed to score a single non-offensive touchdown despite creating numerous opportunities.
Key returners provide hope for improvement:
- LB Deontae Lawson: 76 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 2 sacks before injury
- LB Justin Jefferson: Veteran presence and proven tackler
- Transfer LB Nikhai Hill-Green: Speed and sure tackling from Colorado
The defensive line must replace significant production while integrating elite recruiting talent. Five-star defensive end prospects and four-star edge rushers provide optimism for improved pass rush in Wommack’s second season.
Creating turnovers is great—turning them into points is better.
Championship Expectations and Playoff Pressure
The mandate couldn’t be clearer.
Alabama enters 2025 with the third-best odds (+500) to win the SEC Championship according to FanDuel Sportsbook. More importantly, they face immense pressure to secure a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff after missing the inaugural field.
ESPN’s SP+ projects approximately 9.5 wins for Alabama, suggesting a team capable of playoff contention with upside for more. But projections mean nothing without execution.
Historical precedent supports optimism:
- Four of Alabama’s five national championship coaches improved in year two
- Only Frank Thomas regressed (9-1 to 8-2) before winning the title in 1934
- DeBoer’s track record suggests confidence in reaching baseline expectations
As DeBoer acknowledged, “Now we understand what this place is all about. All together, the relationships now are there with our players; we can just really take it to the next level.”
Making the playoffs isn’t just a goal—it’s a requirement.
The Bottom Line: No More Excuses
Alabama’s 2025 season represents the ultimate referendum on Kalen DeBoer’s vision.
The talent is undeniable. The recruiting momentum is strong. The schedule provides opportunities for statement victories. But as that anonymous SEC coach reminded us, “this is a new era. Bama’s not a surefire lock every season.”
DeBoer has had two years to build his foundation. He’s made strategic additions through recruiting and the portal. He’s identified and addressed the specific weaknesses that cost Alabama in 2024.
Now comes the hardest part: proving it works when everything is on the line.
For Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football, 2025 isn’t just another season—it’s the year everything must come together.
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