Tag: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Zabien Brown named to SEC All-Freshman Team

SEC All-Freshman team’s includes two members of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

On Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Texas Longhorns in overtime to claim the SEC Championship throne. It was a race to the finish, with eight teams having a chance to compete for the championship, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, who ultimately came up just short.

Despite missing out on an SEC Championship and College Football Playoff berth, there are many positive things to take away from the 2024 season. I know people are upset with Kalen DeBoer for the 9-3 finish, but he was in his first year in a new environment and is still the right man for the job.

The future is very bright in Tuscaloosa as DeBoer and the Crimson Tide hold the No. 3 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle and saw solid production from some very young players. WR Ryan Williams and DB Zabien Brown were two freshmen who stood out this season and were both named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Williams was second on the Alabama roster in terms of receptions with 45, but led the team in yards with 857 and touchdowns with eight, while also rushing for two more scores. On the defensive side of the ball, Brown finished the season with 17 total tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

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Alabama’s 2025 Week 1 opponent lands starting QB in the transfer portal

Alabama is scheduled to take on Florida State in Week 1 of 2025, who just landed a new QB1 in the transfer portal.

The Florida State Seminoles are coming off of arguably the worst season in program history, with a 2-10 record, but in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, that can all be solved in the off-season, especially for a blue-blood program like the Seminoles. Head coach Mike Norvell will have some work to do this off-season, but one thing he won’t need to worry about is the QB position after landing former Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos.

Castellanos started the first eight games of the year for the Golden Eagles, guiding them to a 4-4 record before being benched by head coach Bill O’Brien and leaving the team. He had been quite productive, completing 61.5% of his passes for 1,366 yards and 18 TDs to just five INTs, but struggled to find the same success on the ground with 93 carries for just 194 yards and one score.

The now FSU QB started his collegiate career with the UCF Golden Knights where he played for former Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn. Castellanos didn’t see a ton of playing time as a true freshman under Malzahn, but he did complete 9/16 passes for 75 yards as well as rushing 14 times for 120 yards and a score.

While the news typically wouldn’t effect fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Tide will open their 2025 campaign with a trip to Tallahassee on Aug. 30, 2025 to face the ‘Noles. In recent memory, the Crimson Tide have struggled with mobile quarterbacks so Castellanos at 5’9 will surely find ways to give Alabama problems.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama 2024-25 Opponent Preview: Creighton Bluejays

Alabama will return to action Saturday night against the Creighton Bluejays.

After a lengthy break in between games, the Alabama Crimson Tide are set to return to the basketball court this Saturday night for what is yet another tough non-conference game, this time against the Creighton Bluejays.

In what will also be Alabama’s return to Coleman Coliseum, Creighton is a team that is once again expected to be in the NCAA Tournament this March, and could certainly give the Crimson Tide troubles in this game Saturday.

Let’s take a deeper look at the Bluejays, and a few things that you should know about Creighton ahead of their trip to Tuscaloosa.

Creighton Bluejays Team Overview

  • Team Name: Creighton Bluejays
  • Conference: Big East
  • Arena: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Record: 7-3 overall
  • Ranking: Unranked in AP Poll, Unranked in Coaches Poll

One of the top teams in the Big East, Creighton comes to Tuscaloosa sitting at 7-3 overall for the 2024-25 season. The Bluejays are also riding a three-game winning streak that is headlined by a 76-63 home win over previously No. 1 ranked Kansas on Dec. 4.

Creighton Bluejays Coaching Staff

  • Head Coach: Greg McDermott
  • Assistant Coach: Ryan Miller
  • Assistant Coach: Derek Kellogg
  • Assistant Coach: Trey Zeigler

Creighton is led by long-time head coach Greg McDermott, who has been at the helm of the Bluejays program since the 2010-11 season. Since, Creighton has had 20+ wins in every season except one, made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, and have gone dancing in each of the last four seasons.

Creighton Bluejays 2024-25 Stats

  • PPG: 78 (No. 134 in NCAA)
  • PPG Allowed: 68.1 (No. 109 in NCAA)
  • FG%: 47.2
  • 3P%: 33.7
  • FT%: 79.2
  • RPG: 40.7
  • APG: 17.7
  • SPG: 3.3
  • BPG: 5

Creighton comes to Tuscaloosa averaging a total of 78 PPG for the season, while also allowing a total of 68.1 PPG to opponents. The Bluejays also rank No. 3 nationally in defensive rebounds per game at 32, as well as No. 9 in the nation at two-point shooting percentage at 61.5.

Creighton Bluejays Names to Know

  • Ryan Kalkbrenner, Center – Senior
  • Steven Ashworth, Guard – Senior
  • Pop Isaacs, Guard – Junior
  • Jamiya Neal, Guard/Forward – Senior
  • Jackson McAndrew, Forward – Freshman

Finally, the Bluejays are led by one of college basketball’s top centers in Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is currently averaging 17.3 PPG on a Big East-leading 73.8% shooting from the field, while also leading the conference in both rebounds and blocks per game. Creighton also has three others averaging in double-figures in Pop Isaacs, Steven Ashworth, and Jamiya Neal.

Scouting Alabama’s ReliaQuest Bowl opponent: Everything to know about Michigan

Alabama will play Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

On New Year’s Eve, the Alabama Crimson Tide will take to the field for what is the final time during the 2024 season when the program faces the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

An opponent whom Alabama is familiar with, these two programs met just a year ago in a matchup that would certainly more high-profile than this one is shaping up to be. That is because the game was in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl, which is where Michigan handed Alabama a loss on their way to winning the national championship.

This year’s meeting between the two however will not take place in the CFP, instead featuring an Alabama team outside of the Top 10 against an unranked Michigan program.

Here are a few things that you need to know ahead of Alabama vs. Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl:

Who will Alabama play in the ReliaQuest Bowl?

The Crimson Tide are matched up against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Michigan is coming off a 7-5 regular season in which the Wolverines went 5-4 in Big Ten play.

How Alabama, Michigan match up

As indicated by the record above, Michigan did not have as good of a season as the year prior, but make no mistake, the Wolverines are a talented team.

Michigan’s resume is headlined by a road win at Ohio State, with their next biggest victory likely being against USC. The Wolverines’ losses have come against Texas, Washington, Illinois, Oregon, and Indiana, and have not been ranked since mid-October.

Stats-wise, Michigan’s strength comes on defense where they rank No. 25 in the nation at only 20.5 PPG allowed, while also sitting No. 112 nationally on offense at an average of 22.2 PPG.

Alabama is 9-3 overall this season with a highlight win over Georgia, while their losses came against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide rank No. 17 nationally with an average of 35.5 PPG offensively, as well as No. 10 in the nation in scoring defense at 17.2.

What bowl game will Alabama play in?

Alabama and Michigan will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which will take place Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. ET from Raymond Jones Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

When is Alabama vs. Michigan? Time, date for ReliaQuest Bowl

Alabama and Michigan will play on New Year’s Eve.

Even despite missing out on the College Football Playoff, the 2024 season is not quite yet over for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Yes, that is because, even despite missing the CFP, Alabama still qualified for a bowl game where they will face an opponent that is familiar to the Crimson Tide in the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan was the team that ended the Crimson Tide’s season a year ago in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl, with the Wolverines eventually going on to win the national championship.

Here is everything you need to know about this season’s matchup between the Crimson Tide and Wolverines, such as the date, kickoff time, and more:

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Michigan Wolverines in ReliaQuest Bowl date

  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve)

What time Alabama plays Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl

  • Time: 12 p.m. ET on ESPN

Where is Alabama vs. Michigan

  • Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Alabama vs. Michigan prediction

Alabama vs. Michigan is still weeks away, but as for a current prediction, this feels like the Crimson Tide’s game to lose. The difference maker in this game is Alabama’s offense, which will help the Crimson Tide come away with the victory.

Prediction: Alabama 33, Michigan 17

Former Alabama OC was favorite for North Carolina job if no Belichick hire, per report

A former Alabama offensive coordinator was reportedly a candidate for the North Carolina job.

If you’ve paid attention to the college football news over the last week, then you’ll likely know that the headline dominating the sport is not surrounding the College Football Playoff, but rather what it happening at North Carolina.

That is because the Tar Heels recently hired Bill Belichick as the program’s next head coach, bringing likely the greatest professional football coach of all-time to Chapel Hill in a move that sent shock waves across the sport.

However, just what would have happened if the Tar Heels wouldn’t have hired Belichick? Well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, North Carolina could have looked to a former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator to fill their head coaching vacancy, Tommy Rees.

Currently an assistant with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, Rees was the former offensive coordinator at Alabama during the 2023 season under Nick Saban. That season, Rees led Alabama’s offense to an average of 34 PPG to rank No. 24 nationally, but did not remain in the role when Kalen DeBoer took over in Tuscaloosa in 2024.

While although not happening, it appears that Rees was nearly the latest in the Nick Saban coaching tree to land a P4 head coaching job.

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe: ‘I will be playing’ vs. Michigan

One team will likely be much less shorthanded than the other.

If Michigan football was hoping to have a war of attrition in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama, the Crimson Tide are not acceding.

The Wolverines already have a few opt-outs, as defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson have both declared for the NFL draft. More will likely come in the lead-up to the bowl game, now three weeks away. Tight end Colston Loveland and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant being among those who have decisions to make.

But for the Alabama side, head coach Kalen DeBoer expects as close a full contingent to suit up, and now we at least know that the signal caller will be present.

According to Tuscaloosa News reporter Colin Gay, junior quarterback Jalen Milroe — who Michigan saw a year ago in the Rose Bowl — does intend to suit up and play in Tampa.

 

The game does promise to be something of a mismatch, regardless of the entrants. Alabama, 9-3, had its hopes on bypassing an 11-2 SMU team that only got its second loss in the ACC Championship against Clemson. Michigan, however, enters the game at 7-5, with its sole ranked win having come in The Game against playoff-bound Ohio State. But with Graham, Johnson, and likely more opt-outs coming, the hill to victory for the Wolverines has steepened.

Milroe explained at his media availability that his decision is due to him wanting to finish the mission with the players he started with.

 


Michigan and Alabama will kick off the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida at noon EST on Dec. 31.

Alabama football 2025 SEC schedule and dates announced

Official dates are set for Alabama’s 2025 SEC football schedule. Take a look at who the Crimson Tide play and on what date.

The Alabama Crimson Tide already knew which teams they would be facing in SEC play for the 2025 season. Now, the official dates of those conference games have been finalized.

The SEC unveiled its full 2025 conference slate for all 16 teams Wednesday night on SEC Network. For Alabama, the Crimson Tide will be making road trips to Athens to face Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, to CoMo for a showdown with the Missouri Tigers, to Columbia, S.C., for a date with the South Carolina Gamecocks, and to Auburn for the Iron Bowl rivalry with the Auburn Tigers.

Alabama’s trip to Athens will be their first since Oct. 3, 2015 when Nick Saban’s team defeated Georgia 38-10 in the rain at Sanford Stadium. The trip to Mizzou will be the first since the 2020 season opener on Sept. 26, a 38-19 Alabama victory at Faurot Field.

Moreover, the Crimson Tide’s game at South Carolina will mark their first trip to Williams-Brice Stadium since opening SEC play in 2019 with a 47-23 win over the Gamecocks.

For Kalen DeBoer, his second year in Tuscaloosa will feature the ‘Third Saturday in October’ clash with the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium, as well as conference home games against the LSU Tigers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Oklahoma Sooners.

Outside of conference play, Alabama opens the 2025 season in Tallahassee against the Florida State Seminoles on Aug. 30. The Crimson Tide also welcome the Wisconsin Badgers to Tuscaloosa on the back-end of their home-and-home series with Luke Fickell’s team.

Two more nonconference teams visit Bryant-Denny in 2025: the ULM Warhawks and the FCS Eastern Illinois Panthers.

Here’s the full 2025 Alabama football schedule.

Alabama football schedule 2025

  • Aug. 30: at Florida State
  • Sept. 6: vs. ULM
  • Sept. 13: vs. Wisconsin
  • Sept. 20: BYE
  • Sept. 27: at Georgia
  • Oct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt
  • Oct. 11: at Missouri
  • Oct. 18: vs. Tennessee
  • Oct. 25: at South Carolina
  • Nov. 1: BYE WEEK
  • Nov. 8: vs. LSU Tigers
  • Nov. 15: vs. Oklahoma Sooners
  • Nov. 22: vs. Eastern Illinois
  • Nov. 29: at Auburn Tigers

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Alabama makes finalists for top 2026 cornerback prospect

One of the nation’s top 2026 cornerbacks is down to five.

The Alabama Crimson Tide recently received some significant news in the 2026 recruiting cycle Tuesday, as the program was one-of-five finalists for one of the nation’s premier cornerback prospects, RJ Sermons.

Alongside the Crimson Tide, the four other programs in on Sermons are the Georgia Bulldogs, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, and Washington Huskies.

At the moment, Sermons currently ranks as the nation’s No. 33 overall player in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and sits as a highly-rated four-star prospect. Sermons also ranks as the nation’s No. 2 overall cornerback, as well as the No. 6 player in the state of California where he attends Rancho Cucamonga High School.

Alabama’s 2026 class currently holds one commitment, which comes from an in-state prospect in four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland. Attending Parker High School in Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s 2026 recruiting class at the moment ranks No. 39 nationally in the 247Sports Team Rankings with the commitment of Cleveland.

Alabama transfer announces commitment to SEC program

The Alabama transfer has made a decision.

One of the first Alabama Crimson Tide players to announce their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal this cycle has now made a decision, as edge rusher Keanu Koht officially committed to a SEC program Wednesday afternoon.

Koht, who committed to the Vanderbilt Commodores, previously announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal back in mid-November.

RELATED: Alabama football transfer portal tracker

A former four-star prospect, Koht saw limited action across his time with the Crimson Tide, amassing nine tackles with three TFL, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. During the 2024 season, Koht appeared in seven games where the edge rusher had five tackles, one TFL, 0.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Now at Vanderbilt, Koht will also make a return trip to Tuscaloosa next year, as the Commodores are set to play Alabama once again in 2025. The date is currently to be determined.

Koht is the first Alabama player in the transfer portal to announce a decision for 2025.