ποΈβπ¨οΈ The One Key Stat Alabama MUST Fix in 2025 for Kalen DeBoer to Reach the CFP
One glaring issue derailed Alabamaβs bid for the College Football Playoff in 2024βand it must be corrected in 2025: run-game consistency, specifically addressing their alarmingly high stuff rate.
Jalen Milroe brought elite rushing ability, producing explosive plays. Unfortunately, that upside came alongside a burden of inconsistency. Alabama ranked only in the 22nd percentile nationally in βstuff rateββmeaning over one-fifth of their run plays were stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage . This inefficiency contributed to stalled drives, increased third-and-long situations (averaging nearly eight yards needed per conversion), and ugly turnoversβMilroe alone threw three interceptions in one game .
Against Oklahoma, the issue peaked: 28% of Alabamaβs rushes resulted in zero or negative yards, derailing offensive rhythm and pushing pressure onto the passing game .
β Whatβs Being Done?
OC Ryan Grubb, hired from Washington, is known for sleek, efficient run schemesβhis Huskies ranked 25th nationally in EPA per rush .
New QB Ty Simpson (or another successor) brings less mobility but possibly more disciplined readsβtaking the pressure off questionable designed QB runs .
With Jalen Milroe gone, teams canβt just sell out to stop him. Fresh backfield pieces like Jam Miller have fresh opportunities to solidify consistency .
π€οΈ Why Itβs Crucial
Improving the stuff rate from the 22nd to at least median in 2025 could break opposing defensesβ resolve, sustain drives, reduce turnovers, and regain control in clutch momentsβlike last seasonβs collapse versus Oklahoma, and the upset at Vanderbilt. Grubbβs system, combined with a stabilized QB and backfield, presents Alabamaβs clearest path back to dominance.
Bottom line: for DeBoer to restore Alabamaβs CFP hopes, fixing run-game consistency isnβt optionalβitβs the linchpin. Get that right, and everything else falls into place.