Greg McElroy: Alabama could be darkhorse national title contender

The Alabama Crimson Tide are a program that expects to compete for national championships. It’s been four seasons now since Alabama won it all. Despite that, former Alabama quarterback and current analyst Greg McElroy does see the Crimson Tide as a darkhorse national title contender.

McElroy defined a darkhorse team as starting the season ranked seventh or lower in the Preseason AP Poll. Alabama, for its part, ranks eighth. As he explained on his show Always College Football, McElroy now expects them to be in the mix come time for the College Football Playoff.

“Let’s start with the team that’s ranked eighth right now in the AP Poll,” Greg McElroy said. “That’s the Alabama Crimson Tide. Vegas has them fifth in the power ratings. Now, you look at what Alabama has. They have so much production back off of last year.”

Legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired following the 2023 season, being replaced by Kalen DeBoer. They’d go 9-4 in that first season, just missing out on the CFP in what turned out to be an inconsistent season. Now, with a second year under this coaching staff, the team should be improved overall.

“Their defensive line should take a significant step forward,” McElroy said. “That was a position that was occasionally up and down last year. Their linebackers should be more comfortable in Kane Wommack‘s defense this year. Little different style from what they played under Nick Saban to what they played last year under Kane Wommack. Those guys at the second level should be much more comfortable playing this style. I think they have the best secondary in the sport.”

The offensive side of the ball is Kalen DeBoer’s calling card. It’s on that side that Greg McElroy is expecting them to be significantly improved from last season.

“You look at the offense. Offensive line last year, especially on the right side, had some ebbs and flows. You look at the offensive line as a whole this year,” McElroy said. “They feel much better, I think about their personnel and their depth across the board. I love their depth at running back, even though Jam Miller is banged up and will miss the first part of the season.”

If there is a major question on Alabama, it’s quarterback. Throughout the offseason, there was a long quarterback competition. That ended with Ty Simpson winning it, looking to replace Jalen Milroe.

“I think quarterback has been the big question mark surrounding Alabama,” McElroy said. “And I look at Ty Simpson, and while his ceiling may not be as high as a Jalen Milroe, because of Milroe’s athleticism, I still think his floor is much higher than that of Jalen Milroe. You look at a few games last year where Jalen Milroe went out and just looked lost from time to time. The Oklahoma game comes to mind. The game against Tennessee where he made a couple of critical errors. The game against Vanderbilt, where he had a couple of turnovers, even though I think he played pretty well in that game, the defense was really what let them down in that game against the Commodores.”

Alabama opens the 2025 season on the road against Florida State. They’ll later begin SEC play on September 27th on the road against Georgia.

“So, I think Alabama will be a better team this year. Also, year two under Kalen DeBoer. I’d be surprised if they didn’t take a significant step from a consistency standpoint,” McElroy said. “And, by season’s end, with the veterans they have back, they’ll be in a position to go chase a champion in the postseason.”