A College Football Playoff without Alabama football was a lonely time for Crimson Tide fans. Here’s what Alabama needs to do to return to the playoffs and be a real contender again.
Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football coach ended in disappointment. The Crimson Tide lost three regular-season games, twice to teams with at least six losses, and ended just outside of the College Football Playoff field.
Sure, there was a compelling case for Alabama’s playoff inclusion over a number of the teams that got in – SMU and Indiana in particular – but the blame for the Tide’s exclusion fell completely with Tuscaloosa.
If Alabama hadn’t blown it in Norman in November, the playoff committee would never have had to make this decision. If they had defeated Tennessee or Vanderbilt, their victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl would have guaranteed them a playoff spot.
Despite this season’s disappointments, Alabama is still in contention. Don’t let the negative coverage of the program in the national media sway you. They’ve b
Two of Alabama’s three losses in 2024 were close, 50/50 type games. Falling short to Vanderbilt is inexcusable, but take away the fluky pick-six in the first quarter and the Crimson Tide escapes Nashville with a win and they would have played Texas in the SEC Championship just by flipping that result.
Alabama showed it was good enough to compete with anyone. You don’t jump out to a 28-0 lead on Georgia if that wasn’t true. Inconsistency, particularly with the offense, plagued Alabama one too many times in 2024 and reared its ugly head again in the bowl loss to Michigan.
DeBoer knows how vital 2025 is for his program and his future with it. He is taking the right steps to roster building, copying the formula that led Ryan Day and Ohio State to the national championship this season.
While the dynasty is most certainly finished – and dynasties are rare in this day and ag
To be a credible national title contender in 2025, Alabama must change three things on the field:
e – Alabama will still have one of the nation’s most talented rosters in 2025.
3 things to make Alabama football a title contender again
3. Create more havoc in the front-seven
Kane Wommack has all of the components to field an excellent defense in Tuscaloosa next season. With players like LT Overton, Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, Keon Sabb, and Domani Jackson opting out of the NFL for a last run, Alabama returns with enough talent to compete with anyone.
And Alabama was really good defensively in 2024, despite having a lot of youth in the secondary. Wommack’s defense ranked 10th in the USA in terms of yards per play.
To take the next step, Alabama’s front seven must make more havoc plays next season. To accomplish so, the Tide must discover a difference-maker in rushing the passer.
Alabama only managed 25 sacks in 2024, and it will be replacing its two leaders in that department: Jihaad Campbell (5 sacks) and Que Robinson (4).
LT Overton could take a big step in that department; he was one of the nation’s best at winning his one-on-one matchups and getting into the backfield. He just struggled to finish once he was there.
Natural progression from guys like Qua Russaw and Yhonzae Pierre could help, too. Alabama had to rely on too much blitzing this season in order to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which is not something Wommack prefers to do. In order for his defense to be what he wants it to be, Alabama has to be able to get home with four or five.
Alabama needs someone off the edge to step up and become a star in 2025. If that player isn’t on the current roster, they need to open the checkbook and find someone in the spring Transfer Portal window.
2. Consistency in the ground game
Alabama’s rushing offense is projected to look very different in 2025 than in 2024. With Jalen Milroe gone and Ty Simpson expected to take over, the Tide should play a more traditional ground game next season.
Simpson is a decent runner, but he is not the athlete Milroe was, and I believe DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan understand the importance of putting the ball in the hands of a talented group of running backs.
Jam Miller will return for his senior season, accompanied by rising junior Richard rookie, Louisiana transfer Dre’lyn Washington, and a trio of rookie backs looking to make a name for themselves.
Improved offensive line play will also be required to achieve this goal. Alabama returns LT Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, and RG Jaedan Roberts, but will start new players at LG and RT. With Elijah Pritchett’s troubles, a new starter at right tackle is probably a good thing, but replacing Tyler Booker at left guard will be difficult.
Alabama has plenty of interior talent to battle for Booker’s spot, including Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry, versatile veteran Geno VanDeMark, and incoming freshman Michael Carroll.
The depth at tackle is a bit more concerning and Alabama is hoping for a sizable leap from Wilkin Formby as he enters his third year in the program.
1. It all comes down to QB play
Nothing else matters in terms of Alabama’s ability to compete for a national championship in 2025 if they do not improve their quarterback play significantly.
Milroe had his moments and will be remembered for some big ones: 4th-and-31, two wins over Georgia, his annihilation of LSU in Baton Rouge, and so on, but his inconsistent play kept the Crimson Tide from being the best they could have been this season.
Milroe had two of Alabama’s worst quarterback performances in two decades, including losses to Tennessee and Oklahoma. He also did not seem particularly good in the bowl game against Michigan.
Whether Simpson starts at quarterback next season or Austin Mack or Keelon Russell replaces him, Alabama needs to be better than it was in 2024, or next season will be just as dismal – if not more so – than this one.
