Alabama football faced a disappointing 2024 season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, ending with a 9-4 record. Notably, three of these losses were to teams with at least five defeats, despite Alabama being strong favorites.
Many analysts have low expectations for the Crimson Tide in 2025, predicting an even tougher season for DeBoer’s second year. Missing the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff again would likely increase pressure on DeBoer, placing him on the hot seat heading into 2026.
Yet, ESPN’s Bill Connelly remains optimistic about Alabama’s prospects. His SP+ rankings placed Alabama fourth in college football for 2024, despite their four losses. The team boasts a wealth of talent on defense and skilled position players; what they need is consistent quarterback performance to be a serious contender.
Connelly recently shared his College Football Playoff bracket projection for 2025, which is intended as a fun exercise using Mark Schlabach’s Way Too Early Top 25. In his projection, Alabama is seeded fifth, which would grant them a home playoff game at Bryant-Denny Stadium against No. 12 Boise State. Should Alabama win, they would advance to face No. 4 Louisville, the projected ACC champion, and potentially move on to the semifinals to compete against No. 1 Georgia.
This optimistic outlook highlights the belief that Alabama still has a shot at being a top contender, despite recent setbacks.
