Alabama Football: 2025 Crimson Tide Season Preview and Prediction
Alabama Football: 2025 Crimson Tide Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Alabama fans were willing to cut coach Kalen DeBoer some slack for a 9-4 debut season after he navigated a transition from Nick Saban that shocked players and sent some key pieces to the transfer portal. But there is only so much patience in Tuscaloosa, where winning national championships is the standard. There is greater comfort and stability around Alabama in 2025, but expectations have risen accordingly.
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More SEC team previews:
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South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Texas A&M | Vanderbilt
Alabama 2025 Season Preview and Prediction
Previewing Alabama's Offense for 2025
Addition by subtraction? That's the question for Alabama as it transitions away from Jalen Milroe at quarterback after two seasons. Milroe's electric running ability, especially in the red zone, was a staple of the Tide's offense the past two seasons. But the passing game was inconsistent and a far cry from what Bryce Young, Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa had produced in previous seasons.
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Head coach Kalen DeBoer spent the spring evaluating his three options to replace Milroe — fourth-year junior Ty Simpson, third-year sophomore Austin Mack and 5-star freshman Keelon Russell — and said he wanted a 'playmaker' and not just a game manager. DeBoer is also reunited with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who called plays for a Washington attack that produced some of the nation's top passing numbers behind Michael Penix Jr. If Alabama can find a more capable passer to replace Milroe, it has one of the most talented receiver rooms in the country — led by superstar Ryan Williams — to catch those passes.
Related: Ranking the SEC Coaches for 2025
Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2).Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Previewing Alabama's Defense for 2025
Alabama returns much of its starting defense from last season, the result of several players opting out of the NFL Draft to play an additional year in college. That gives second-year coordinator Kane Wommack a solid base to build upon with a group that improved as the 2024 season progressed. Alabama's defense struggled in a loss to Vanderbilt last season, but it was hard to blame that side of the ball for losses against Tennessee, Oklahoma or Michigan.
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Getting linebacker Deontae Lawson (torn ACL) and safety Keon Sabb (broken foot) back after season-ending injuries will be a big boost for a unit that is loaded with veterans and potential 2026 NFL Draft picks.
Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (0).Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Previewing Alabama's Specialists for 2025
Alabama will have a new group of specialists in 2025. Replacing James Burnip, who became one of the nation's best punters, will be the biggest challenge, and the Tide plucked Colorado School of Mines punter Blake Doud from Division II as one option. Conor Talty, one of the nation's top high school kickers two years ago, will get his chance for Alabama after sitting behind Will Reichard and then Graham Nicholson the past two seasons. Cal transfer David Bird is the new long-snapper.
National Ranking: 8
More SEC team previews:
Arkansas | Auburn | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky
LSU | Mississippi State | Missouri | Oklahoma | Ole Miss
South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Texas A&M | Vanderbilt
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Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now
Related: SEC Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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