If someone told you a decade ago that Alabama football might someday feel like the overachieving kid in the back row, you’d probably laugh. After all, Nick Saban turned the Crimson Tide into the CFB equivalent of a dynasty, winning with ruthless precision year after year. But here we are and after a 9-4 season under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama’s once-mighty grip is loosening. It’s not that the SEC got easier—it’s that the rest of the country finally decided to catch up.

Some said the SEC is the toughest conference. Yet we have consecutive B1G teams lifting the CFP title with Michigan in 2023, and on Monday night in Atlanta, Ohio State’s high-powered offense proved to be too much for Notre Dame in the Buckeyes’ 34-23 victory. Fresh off their 2024 College Football Playoff (CFP) championship win over Notre Dame, leading the parade into 2025. Mark Schlabach’s ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25 features seven non-SEC teams ahead of Alabama. And while the SEC still holds a hefty presence with the likes of Georgia, LSU, and Texas in the mix, Alabama sits at a modest 12th. It’s a ranking that would’ve been considered an insult during Saban’s tenure, but it’s a sobering reality check for Kalen DeBoer as he tries to rebuild the program.

A key part of Alabama’s struggles is the departure of quarterback Jalen Milroe, who, despite an up-and-down season, was still a dynamic playmaker. His dual-threat capabilities often bailed the Tide out of trouble, and now Kalen DeBoer faces the unenviable task of picking his successor. Ty Simpson, former Washington transfer Austin Mack, and incoming five-star recruit Keelon Russell are set to duke it out in spring practices. The QB battle will be critical, as Alabama’s success has always started under center. “You can’t just plug and play at this level,” DeBoer said in December. “The SEC demands more.”

And yet, even with quarterback questions looming, the Tide’s offense has bright spots. The receiving corps, featuring Malik Williams and Jacoby Bernard, return with enough firepower to give opposing secondaries headaches. The offensive line, however, will need retooling, a task DeBoer must address quickly. With LSU, Georgia, and Texas in the SEC looking every bit as dangerous—or more—it’s clear Alabama no longer holds an automatic edge. DeBoer knows it, too. The days of walking into the CFP are gone; now it’s a grind just to stay in the conversation.

The irony of Alabama’s position isn’t lost on SEC fans. The conference that once sent teams to the CFP like clockwork has now gone two years without a champion. For Alabama, 2025 is about proving they can still adapt, still fight, and still matter on a national stage.

DeBoer is no stranger to success—his tenure at Washington showed he can build a program with explosive offenses and stout defenses. But the SEC is a different beast, and Alabama fans aren’t known for their patience. If he can’t right the ship soon, the program risks fading further into the background.

Kalen DeBoer and Bama are still the 2 favorite spot for recruits

The 2024 college football season had its fair share of unforgettable moments—the first-ever 12-team Playoff, a two-way player snagging the Heisman—but for Alabama fans, it’s one they’d rather forget. A rare four-loss season left the Crimson Tide faithful scratching their heads and looking forward to what’s next. The good news? The Tide has every reason to believe brighter days are ahead.

With the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the 2025 cycle and several big-time players sticking around, Alabama is poised to storm back into the national title conversation next year. Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman of On3 Sports just dropped their Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2025, and Alabama landed at No. 14. It’s not their usual spot in the Top 5, but hey, there’s room to climb. Wasserman didn’t sugarcoat things, saying, “Kalen DeBoer went 9-4 in his first year as Alabama’s coach. That isn’t good enough. That said, he brought in a ton of talent in the latest recruiting cycle.”

The Tide is ranked as the sixth-best SEC team, trailing powerhouses like No. 1 Texas, No. 6 Georgia, and No. 8 South Carolina. LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M also cracked the Top 25. Alabama might be in an unfamiliar spot now, but you’d be foolish to count them out.