National media outlet puts Alabama Crimson Tide football on notice ahead of the 2025 season
Earlier this week, CBS Sports took a look at the eight college football programs that have the "most work to do" during spring practices. Unsurprisingly, the Alabama Crimson Tide were one of the eight programs that CBS Sports singled out. Alabama went 9-4 last season under Kalen DeBoer in the first year of the post-Nick […]
Earlier this week, CBS Sports took a look at the eight college football programs that have the "most work to do" during spring practices.
Unsurprisingly, the Alabama Crimson Tide were one of the eight programs that CBS Sports singled out.
Alabama went 9-4 last season under Kalen DeBoer in the first year of the post-Nick Saban era.
CBS Sports essentially put the Crimson Tide on notice, noting that "the clock is ticking to return to contention" for Alabama in 2025.
Starting now, the clock is ticking to return to contention…With all the blue-chip talent on campus, there are no excuses," wrote CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah.
From CBS Sports: Nominally, the Tide were on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff in Kalen DeBoer's first season. More acutely, the Tide boasted the most talented roster in college football and lost four games for the first time since 2007. After scoring 35 points in a loss to Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide went on to score a paltry 11 points per game in their last three losses. Bringing in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb – DeBoer's right-hand man at Washington – should help. Starting now, the clock is ticking to return to contention. The primary focus of the spring will be the passing game. Wide receiver Ryan Williams papered over many holes, but the pass-catchers outside of Williams and Germie Bernard were underwhelming. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is off to the NFL, leaving more traditional pocket passers Ty Simpson and Austin Mack. The unit needs to get better. With all the blue-chip talent on campus, there are no excuses.
CBS Sports is really putting the pressure on DeBoer and the Crimson Tide in 2025.
And that's how it should be. Alabama has built a reputation for being a dominant program that's an annual national championship contender over the last 18 years. Nick Saban may not be the head coach in Tuscaloosa any longer, but the standard hasn't changed.
If Alabama can't get back to the College Football Playoff in 2025, it's going to get real noisy real quick for DeBoer. And it should — the talent is there, the time is now. The Crimson Tide can't afford to do anything but take a step forward in 2025.
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