Alabama football fans sound off on 2025 season | Goodbread mailbag
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Alabama football closed out the 2025 season much the same way it began: with a dud performance. In between, however, the Crimson Tide ripped off eight consecutive wins and carved out a place in both the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Readers sound off with their thoughts on the UA year in football:
Daniel from Huntsville writes: It’s hard to watch Alabama get out-processed by a second-year coach at Indiana. The Rose Bowl was a complete indictment of DeBoer’s entire approach to coaching and program management. Cignetti shows us that Saban’s process still works in the NIL era, so what exactly is DeBoer doing? If Cignetti can make “the process” work at Indiana, what is DeBoer’s excuse?
Hey Daniel: The distance between Alabama and a national-championship caliber team got exposed, to be sure. UA was beaten by a better team, but looked unprepared to boot. As for DeBoer, I’m hesitant to judge his entire program based on one bad afternoon. At the same time, it’s concerning how uncompetitive UA has been in at least half of his eight losses (Oklahoma in 2024, FSU in 2025, Georgia in the SECCG, Indiana in the CFP).
Shane from Lakeway, Texas, writes: I am not ready to question if KDB is the right coach, but there is no question the program is headed in the wrong direction. Auburn – who fired their coach and whose program is in shambles – had a more productive offense than Alabama this year and our sense of toughness and intimidation is gone. We were blown out on one of the biggest stages in the sport and that is simply unacceptable. Expecting significant changes this off-season.
Hey Shane: No doubt, DeBoer has his work cut out for him in Year 3, starting with a revamped offensive line that must be greatly improved. But I’ll offer some pushback as to the direction of the program. Going from 9-4 and the ReliaQuest Bowl to 11-4 and a playoff quarterfinal is undeniably a year-over-year step forward.
Drew from Kansas City writes: The ending to the season was disappointing given how the team bounced back after Florida State and went on a long winning streak against tough competition. However, the program did make progress compared to last year by making it to Atlanta and winning a playoff game. Tide fans have to continue giving DeBoer time to build his program and a roster that fits his offensive philosophy. Next year’s success will be critical for the DeBoer era.
Hey Drew: Between graduations and portal activity, DeBoer’s 2026 roster will include very few Saban signees. That means players not fitting the system will be gone as an excuse. That’ll be especially true on the offensive line, which should be the coaching staff’s top priority for improvement. In DeBoer’s first two years, a few Saban-signed O-linemen were somewhat misfit for the system. That won’t be the case going forward, as every 2026 offensive lineman of any consequence will be a DeBoer signee.
Derek from Indianapolis writes: Similar to last year, I just have major concerns about the lack of preparation, in-game adjustments, and trending down at the end of the season. Granted this was probably the worst team since 2006, so you could argue they reached their ceiling. You would just like to see the offensive gurus on staff to do their job and not hang the defense out to dry three times a game.
Hey Derek: I would submit that Alabama’s 2025 team would’ve beaten Alabama’s 2007 team, and its 2024 team, but probably no Alabama team in between.
Ben from Huntsville writes: 2025 – Disaster sandwich. Blame NIL? Sure but it’s the same problem everywhere. Is DeBoer too nice? Seems closer to a Mike Shula personality than a Nick Saban type. Nice guys finish last − or at Alabama … not first.
Hey Ben: Agree that he’s much closer to Shula than Saban personality-wise. But that doesn’t mean his leadership effectiveness is closer to Shula than Saban. If DeBoer ultimately proves to be the right guy for the job, he’ll also prove to be more like the latter.
Matt from Baton Rouge writes:I’m content with how the season went, but I have to know – why could we never run the ball? It’s gotta be coaching, scheme, or talent, right? Different RBs didn’t produce much different results, so I’m inclined to think it’s not their fault, in general. That puts it on the line.
Hey Matt: The offensive line couldn’t sustain blocks and spent way too much time on the ground, which just creates traffic for the running backs. Add to that, several linemen lacked the athleticism and mobility that the DeBoer/Grubb run game demands. Meanwhile, the talent level in the running back room isn’t what it once was. Put all that together, and you have the 15th-ranked rushing attack in a 16-team league.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football fans sound off on 2025 season, CFP finish | Mailbag
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