🏈 Alabama’s 2025 Football Schedule: Extra “Bye Weeks” Thanks to Three Cupcake Games

🏈 Alabama’s 2025 Football Schedule: Extra “Bye Weeks” Thanks to Three Cupcake Games

Alabama’s 2025 slate includes two official bye weeks (Week 4 & Week 10) and three non-conference “cupcake” games—essentially giving the Tide five light weeks during the regular season .

🧩 Why These Games Matter

1. Louisiana‑Monroe (Sept 6)

A mid-major matchup ideal for fine‑tuning after the tough opener at FSU. Expect clean execution and minimal risk .

2. Wisconsin (Sept 13)

Though a Power Five opponent, Wisconsin is still a manageable test compared to SEC foes. The badgers suffered big losses last season, making this a controlled early countermeasure .

3. Eastern Illinois (Nov 22)

A late-season breather tucked between Oklahoma and Auburn. This lower‑tier opponent arrives at the perfect time to rest starters and prepare for the Iron Bowl .

These matchups function like bonus bye weeks—allowing Alabama to rest key players and sharpen strategy without sacrificing competitive momentum .

📅 Full 2025 Slate — Break & Bounce Weeks

Week 1: @ Florida State

Week 2: vs Louisiana‑Monroe

Week 3: vs Wisconsin

Week 4: OFF

Week 5–9: SEC gauntlet (Georgia → Vanderbilt → Missouri → Tennessee → South Carolina)

Week 10: OFF

Week 11: vs LSU

Week 12: vs Oklahoma

Week 13: vs Eastern Illinois

Week 14: @ Auburn

🔥 Strategic Advantages

Maintaining momentum: Light weeks are spaced out early and late—allowing Alabama to stay fresh during big stretches.

Injury management: Regular rest enables better recovery for high-mileage starters.

Preparation time: Coaches gain valuable game-week prep before major matchups.

Despite a tough SEC schedule, these “cupcake” spots act like built-in rest weeks—giving the Tide an edge in both physically and mentally managing the grind .

Bottom line: With two scheduled byes and three low-risk games slotted strategically, Alabama’s 2025 schedule offers five total windows for rest and recalibration—possibly the most “bye-like” season they’ve ever had.