Alabama football supporters are hopeful the Kalen DeBoer era would turn out like most television sitcoms and improve after the first season.
Last season, the Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff after it expanded to 12 teams, finishing outside the top ten.
This year, Alabama’s trip to the playoff is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in college football, and here’s why:
Strength of Schedule
ESPN placed Alabama’s strength of schedule 11th in the US.
The Crimson Tide will play seven teams rated in the top 25 of ESPN’s post-spring SP+ rankings.
Returning production
ESPN also has five of Alabama’s 2025 opponents, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin, ranked in the top 25 for overall returning production.
South Carolina is also ranked 33rd in returning offensive production, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers predicted to have a breakout year, while Missouri is ranked 10th in returning defensive production.
For reference, Alabama ranks 29th overall in returning productivity, 59th in returning offensive production, and 13th in returning defensive production.
Season opening vs. new and better FSU?
Instead of hosting a Conference-USA team like the previous two years, Alabama will begin the season in Tallahassee. Playing Florida State in Week 1 might be risky.
Florida State finished 2-10 in 2024, but the Seminoles are no longer the same team. Because it’s a first-week game, Alabama won’t be able to watch film of the Seminoles’ new players.
In 2024, quarterback Thomas Castellanos transfers from Boston College, where he was coached by Bill O’Brien, former Alabama offensive coordinator.
Castellanos’ helmet will feature the voice of new Florida State offensive coordinator and play caller Gus Malzahn, who defeated the Crimson Tide several times as Auburn’s head coach.
Alabama will visit Missouri on October 11 and host Oklahoma on November 15. The two teams have one thing in common.
Missouri and Oklahoma each had bye weeks the week before their respective games against Alabama, giving them an extra week to recover and prepare for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will host Vanderbilt on October 4, while Missouri will have a bye. Oklahoma’s bye week begins on November 8, the same week as Alabama and LSU’s heavyweight fight in Tuscaloosa.
DeBoer’s first Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare
DeBoer’s first Iron Bowl as a visitor will take place in Jordan-Hare Stadium, which has hosted some spectacular moments such as the “Kick Six” and “4th and 31.”
Auburn signed some talented players through the transfer portal, including Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold. In the 24-3 shock victory over the Crimson Tide in 2024, the former Sooner rushed for 131 yards.
Arnold will have several quality wide receivers, including Cam Coleman and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr.
The magic on the plains will most likely be at its peak.
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