The Alabama Crimson Tide saw their rocky 2024 season end as a disappointment after they were excluded from the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff in favor of the SMU Mustangs. The blowout losses of SMU and Indiana in the first round of the playoff will ultimately provide little consolation for Alabama fans as they attempt to justify why the Tide should have been included in the playoff field. As their current championship aspirations have been placed on hold, all that Kalen DeBoer’s squad can do is look ahead to the future.
What Lies Ahead For Alabama
The Crimson Tide will take on the 7-5 Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The game will be a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a game which Michigan won in overtime by a score of 27-20. However, the stage for the rematch is considerably smaller than last year’s meeting and, obviously, a serious disappointment for what both teams had hoped for coming into the season. After all, Alabama and Michigan are two of the most storied programs in the history of College Football.
Alabama is currently a 12.5-point betting favorite against the Wolverines, which should not come as a surprise. Quarterback Jalen Milroe recently announced that he will play in the game, giving the Tide a significant edge in the inter-conference matchup. Yet again, a bowl game victory won’t do much to satisfy the expectations of the Alabama fanbase.
Aside from bowl preparation, the Crimson Tide have also had to deal with the fast-moving transfer portal which has vastly increased in magnitude since the days of NIL began. Among the players that have committed to Alabama are Florida LB Kelby Collins and Utah CB Cam Calhoun. Highly-touted Miami WR transfer Isaiah Horton, a 6’4, 205 lbs, former four-star recruit from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is reportedly considering joining Alabama.
The list of players who have departed is noticeably longer, including the likes of RB Justice Haynes, OL Miles McVay, DL Damon Payne Jr., LB Keanu Koht, and DB DeVonta Smith. Alabama has also lost numerous wide receivers including Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson, and Caleb Odom. In total, Kalen DeBoer’s squad has seen 14 transfer portal departures (tied for ninth-most in the SEC).
What Are Alabama’s Expectations In 2025?
The post-Nick Saban era has had its’ fair share of challenges during the first season. It is safe to say that the days of Alabama dominating college football are over, but that does not mean that the Crimson Tide can’t lift themselves back into championship contention next season. The transfer portal in the NIL era allows for the balance of power to change drastically from one season to the next. As far as Alabama is concerned, it will be hard to predict how good the Tide will be going forward.
It is distinctly possible that Alabama will return to their championship-contending standard next season, allowing DeBoer to win over the long-term support of the university and its fans. However, the team has already suffered major departures in the transfer portal. There is also a high likelihood that Jalen Milroe will decide to go to the NFL instead of returning for his senior season. Having uncertainty at the quarterback position would only add to Alabama’s dilemma as they attempt to resurrect their championship culture.
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