Ranking OU's opponents in 2025: Alabama
Editor’s note: This is a series previewing each of the Sooners’ opponents in 2025. OUInsider will rank all 12 opponents by their significance, difficulty and entertainment value on a 1-10 scale, publishing each installment based on which team is next in the rankings. This installment focuses on Alabama, the team ranked third in this series.
The most unexpected moment of the Sooners’ entire 2024 season? Beating Alabama by three touchdowns at Owen Field in November.
That game had far-reaching consequences. For one, it clinched bowl eligibility for the Sooners and provided some semblance of hope in a season that went sideways. Two, it essentially kept the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff, and last season marked the first time they failed to win at least 10 games since 2007.
There is some (relative) anxiety for the Crimson Tide to be a lot better in 2025. They enter with high expectations in Year 2 of Kalen DeBoer despite some key departures, including quarterback Jalen Milroe. They also face a really difficult schedule, which includes contests at Georgia, at South Carolina, at Auburn and Tennessee.
They’ll also face the Sooners again in a mid-November contest, although this will be at home. This year will mark just the second time the Sooners have played in Tuscaloosa and the first time since 2003, when Bob Stoops dialed up a fake punt that helped them seal a 20-13 win. The Sooners lead the all-time series record 4-1-2.
Here’s an overview of what the Sooners can expect from the Crimson Tide this fall:
GAME INFO
When: Nov. 15, 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m.
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: TBD
OUINSIDER METRICS
Difficulty: 9/10
Significance: 10/10
Entertainment Value: 10/10
Total score: 29/30
ALABAMA OVERVIEW
2024 BASIC STATS
Record: 9-4
Scoring offense: 33.8 points per game (22nd)
Scoring defense: 17.4 points per game (10th)
Total offense: 410.2 yards per game (42nd)
Total defense: 320.1 yards per game (20th)
KEY DEPARTURES
QB Jalen Milroe (3,570 total yards, 36 total TD, 11 INT, 64% completion)
LB Jihaad Campbell (117 tackles, 12 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT)
KEY RETURNERS
WR Ryan Williams (48 receptions, 865 yards, 8 TD)
WR Germie Bernard (50 receptions, 794 yards, 2 TD)
RB Jam Miller (145 carries, 668 yards, 7 TD)
LB Deontae Lawson (76 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT)
DL Tim Keenan III (40 tackles, 8 TFL, 2.5 sacks)
KEY ADDITIONS
QB Keelon Russell (2025 five star)
CB Dijon Lee Jr. (2025 five star)
WR Isaiah Horton (Miami)
LB Nikhai Hill-Green (Colorado)
DL Kelby Collins (Florida)
STORYLINES
1. Who will be the starting quarterback when OU comes to town?
The Crimson Tide have three viable candidates for the starting job. DeBoer said Ty Simpson is the leader for that job heading into fall camp, and Simpson might solidify that spot with a good few weeks in August.
Simpson — heading into his fourth season — hasn’t really had an opportunity to play despite being one of the top-ranked recruits in the 2022 class. He was ranked as the No. 3 quarterback by On3 and the No. 30 prospect overall. But with Milroe gone, Simpson has a prime opportunity to prove he can be elite on the field.
But he’s not alone, and a lot can change between now and November. The Crimson Tide added Russell, a five-star prospect who was one of the more highly-touted recruits in the class. They also have Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington to Alabama.
Either way, Alabama’s starting quarterback will be flanked by their top-two receivers from a year ago, as well as last year’s starting running back.
2. Is there any pressure on DeBoer?
Following Nick Saban was never going to be easy, given his incredible run at Alabama and the massive roster turnover that happened after his retirement. Going 9-3 in the regular season is nothing to scoff at, particularly in the SEC, and they beat Georgia.
But last season was still somewhat disappointing. They were thoroughly out-played by both Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, two teams that finished with a combined 13 wins. Win just one of those games, and Alabama is in the College Football Playoff. Even with the roster turnover, the Crimson Tide had more than enough talent on both sides of the ball to make the 12-team playoff field.
Even with Milroe’s departure, Alabama has enough talent to contend for an SEC title and a CFP spot. They return 63% of their production from last season, including eight defensive starters and several key skill players.
DeBoer is a good coach, it’s still early in his tenure and it’s not a catastrophe if Alabama doesn’t make the playoff this season. But Alabama fans are used to winning, and this team has the roster to make noise. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if the Crimson Tide are again on the outside looking in.
ANALYSIS
This could end up the toughest game on the Sooners’ schedule. Winning is Tuscaloosa is never easy, and this is an Alabama team that will be highly motivated to atone for last season’s embarrassment in Norman. Plus, with this game coming in November, it’s very likely that there will be CFP implications for at least one of these teams.
The Sooners’ schedule just doesn’t let up. Games like this are a huge reason why the Sooners have to take care of business in other parts of their schedule, particularly at home. But winning a game like this would do wonders, both for Brent Venables and the program as a whole.
OUINSIDER SCHEDULE SERIES
12. Kent State
11. Illinois State
10. Temple
9. Missouri
8. Ole Miss
6. Tennessee
5. LSU
4. Auburn
3. Alabama