Game 8 Preview: Scouting the Alabama Crimson Tide

South Carolina and Alabama couldn’t be at more different points in their respective 2025 seasons. The Gamecocks appeared to reach rock bottom after a 27-6 loss to Oklahoma last weekend. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, has rattled off six straight wins, the last four of which have come against ranked in-conference foes.

Yet both squads are set to take on each other Saturday afternoon at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Before the game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, here’s what Alabama brings to the table.

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How they got here

Head coach Kalen DeBoer seemed destined for the hot seat after the Alabama’s first game. The preseason No. 8 team in the country, it entered its season opener as 13.5-point favorites over Florida State. The Seminoles flipped that projected margin of victory in their favor, stunning the Crimson Tide en route to a 31-17 win in Tallahassee.

Since then, all Alabama has done is, in the words of acclaimed record producer DJ Khaled, “Win, win, win, no matter what.”

The Crimson Tide closed out its early slate of non-conference matchups with dominant wins over UL Monroe (73-0) and Wisconsin (38-14) before going on bye. They have since climbed their way into the top-five of the AP poll with four consecutive victories over SEC opponents: No. 5 Georgia (24-21), No. 10 Vanderbilt (30-14), No. 15 Missouri (27-24) and No. 17 Tennessee (37-20).

Last time out

The SEC’s removal of divisions ahead of last season gave South Carolina the opportunity to face off against teams they hadn’t in a long time. Alabama, which the Gamecocks hadn’t met since 2019 or traveled to Tuscaloosa to play since 2009, was one of them.

South Carolina, unranked at the time, gave Alabama a run for its money. The Gamecocks led 19-14 after three quarters and recovered an onside kick late in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance to win on the road at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It wasn’t meant to be, though, as LaNorris Sellers‘ Haily Mary attempt was intercepted to seal a narrow 27-25 win for the No. 7-ranked Crimson Tide.

The loss stung in the moment for South Carolina, but it helped change the trajectory of its season for the better. After going on bye, the Gamecocks ran the table with six wins in a row to finish the campaign 9-3 and earn a trip to the Citrus Bowl.

Where they sit in the rankings

Alabama is ranked in both the AP and US LBM Coaches polls. The Crimson Tide are currently No. 4 in the AP poll after rising two spots from last week and receiving 1,463 votes. The US LBM Coaches poll also pegged Alabama as the No. 4 team in the country with 1,408 votes.

In ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI), the Crimson Tide are ranked No. 4 with a 22.9 FPI. Their projected record is 10.6-2.2. This season, the team has a 56.5 percent chance of winning the SEC, an 89.6 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, and a 26.6 percent change of playing in the National Championship game (along with a 13.5 percent change of winning it). It also has a 24.7 percent chance of winning out.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Alabama checks in at No. 9 with a rating of 19.8. Bill Connelly gave the Crimson Tide a 36.9 rating on offense (15th in FBS), a 17.0 rating on defense (14th) and a -0.1 rating on special teams (92nd).

Alabama sits third in the Massey Ratings. It ranks fifth in offense and third in defense.

ESPN gives the Crimson Tide an 82.2 percent chance to win this weekend. Alabama heads into the contest as 11.5-point favorites, according to ESPN BET Sportsbook.

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Players to watch

Ty Simpson (Redshirt junior, quarterback) — Simpson is now in his fourth season with the Crimson Tide program and his first as its starter. It didn’t go off to the best start, as he completed a season-low 53.5 percent of his passes (23-for-43) against Florida State. Since then, he’s been nothing but electric. His numbers on the season are now up to 1,931 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, just one interception and a 70.2 percent completion rate (153-for-218).

Ryan Williams (Sophomore, wide receiver) — Williams broke out during his true freshman campaign, logging 865 yards and eight touchdowns on 48 catches. Despite being Alabama’s second-best wideout by the numbers this year, he remains a dangerous deep threat. This season, he has caught 26 passes for 423 yards and three scores. Only Germie Bernard has more receptions (33) and yards (472), and only Bernard and Isaiah Horton have more touchdowns (five apiece), than Williams.

Yhonzae Pierre (Redshirt sophomore, linebacker) — If the Crimson Tide were to name a “Defensive MVP” after seven games, Pierre would likely be the winner. He currently leads the team in tackles for loss (6.5), sacks (4.0), quarterback hits (six) and forced fumbles (two). Pierre has been especially effective as of late. He was credited for three sacks (which resulted in a loss of 31 total yards), as well as six total tackles (five solo), against Tennessee.

Path to victory

Alabama is, on paper, the most difficult (and, potentially, the most in-form) team South Carolina has faced this season. But the Gamecocks have played spoiler at Williams-Brice Stadium before — in 2010, when the Crimson Tide were No. 1.

That, along with the chaotic nature of the current college football season, means a major upset remains in the cards for South Carolina. But what must it do to pull it off?

On defense, the Gamecocks need to limit Alabama’s air attack and minimize explosive plays. Five Crimson Tide pass-catchers with at least 10 receptions — Williams (16.3), Lotzeir Brooks (15.9), Bernard (14.3), Horton (12.4) and Josh Cuevas (11.0) — are averaging double-digit yards per reception. Simpson also isn’t known for using his legs, as he has just 66 rushing yards on 45 carries. Pressuring Simpson and reaching him quickly will not only force him to improvise and scramble, but also keep his receivers from creating space for themselves deep down the field.

On offense, South Carolina has to put together another strong performance on the ground. Interestingly enough, Alabama has given up the same number of passing and receiving yards (154.6) per game this year. Its pass defense ranks second in the SEC, but its run defense is fourth from the bottom. Look for any combination of Rahsul Faison, Oscar Adaway and Matthew Fuller (and Sellers, potentially) to lead the charge on offense to exploit the Crimson Tide’s weakness in this area.

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