Breaking: With a team GPA of 3.29 and 103 players with a GPA above 3.0, Alabama Crimson Tide football achieved the greatest GPA in program history in Fall 2024. The Crimson Tide have now surpassed their own record once more.
In an era where academic success is becoming just as important as performance on the gridiron, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program has taken a groundbreaking step forward. According to a release from the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide football team achieved a record-setting team GPA of 3.29 during the Fall 2024 semester. Even more impressively, 103 players earned a GPA above 3.0, marking the most players ever to cross that academic threshold in the program’s storied history.
For a program that has long been known for producing NFL-ready talent and competing for national championships, this academic milestone reflects the deepening emphasis Alabama places on developing well-rounded student-athletes. While titles and trophies dominate the headlines, this achievement sends a resounding message about Alabama’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of the collegiate experience.
The 3.29 team GPA isn’t just a modest improvement—it’s a historic high. It marks the highest single-semester GPA ever recorded by Alabama football, topping the previous record set just a few semesters ago. The fact that the program has now surpassed its own GPA record multiple times in recent years speaks to a sustained and intentional effort under the leadership of both the athletic department and academic support staff.
More than a numerical statistic, this GPA is symbolic of a cultural shift within one of college football’s most dominant programs. It shows that excellence on the football field no longer comes at the cost of academic rigor—it coexists with it.
To fully appreciate the significance of Alabama’s academic feat, it’s worth breaking down the numbers:
- Team GPA: 3.29 (New Program Record)
- Players with 3.0+ GPA: 103
- Players with 4.0 GPA: [Exact figure not disclosed, but multiple according to sources]
- Consecutive semesters above 3.0: This continues a multi-year streak that began in the Nick Saban era and has carried into the Kalen DeBoer administration.
This academic output isn’t just rare in the Southeastern Conference—it’s rare in all of college football. At a time when NIL, transfer portal shifts, and on-field competition dominate headlines, Alabama has balanced all those pressures while still creating a supportive academic environment for over 100 student-athletes.
Although Nick Saban retired in early 2024 after an unmatched coaching career, his impact is still felt in Tuscaloosa—in more ways than one. Saban’s tenure was characterized not only by championship-level football but also by an emphasis on process, discipline, and character. Those values extended into the classroom.
Under Saban, Alabama’s APR (Academic Progress Rate) numbers consistently remained among the SEC’s best. He regularly spoke about the importance of education in his players’ lives, often emphasizing that the “process” applied equally to academics as it did to football.
Now, with head coach Kalen DeBoer taking the reins, it’s clear that the commitment to academic integrity and achievement hasn’t wavered—it’s intensified. DeBoer has not only maintained the academic standard set by his predecessor but helped raise the bar even further.
When Kalen DeBoer was introduced as Alabama’s new head football coach, much of the buzz centered around his offensive acumen and success at Washington. But within his first year, DeBoer has made it clear that his vision for Alabama includes developing leaders off the field as well.
In a statement responding to the team GPA news, DeBoer praised the players and academic staff:
“We talk a lot about building habits that lead to success, and that applies just as much in the classroom as it does on Saturdays. This is a tremendous accomplishment for our team, and I’m incredibly proud of how our players have taken responsibility for their futures.”
DeBoer’s approach has emphasized daily discipline, accountability, and setting high standards—concepts that seamlessly align with academic excellence.
Alabama’s academic breakthrough didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of years of investment in infrastructure, personnel, and culture aimed at supporting student-athletes. The Center for Athletic Student Services (CASS) has played a pivotal role in building the scaffolding for success.
Led by a team of academic advisors, tutors, and learning specialists, CASS ensures players have every resource they need—whether it’s help with time management, writing skills, exam preparation, or mental health services. Study halls are structured, progress reports are monitored closely, and individual development plans are tailored to each player.
In many ways, the academic support team functions like a coaching staff. They review film—not of football games—but of academic progress. They scout upcoming “opponents” like midterms, finals, and paper deadlines. The players are expected to “win” in the classroom just as they do in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Balancing a full course load with the demands of SEC football is no easy feat. Between early morning lifts, film sessions, practice, travel, and game preparation, the average football player at Alabama juggles a schedule that would overwhelm most full-time students.
And yet, over 100 players earned a GPA over 3.0 this past fall.
This is a testament not only to their talent and intelligence but to their resilience, focus, and work ethic. Players are making sacrifices—social, personal, and physical—in order to excel in both arenas. It’s a form of dual excellence that’s hard to quantify but easy to respect.
Several Alabama players have taken to social media and team press availability to reflect on the academic achievement.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe, who’s expected to be a major leader for the Tide in 2025, shared the following via Instagram:
“This program makes you grow in every way. Proud to be part of a team that takes school as seriously as football. 3.29 GPA… let’s keep going!”
Linebacker Deontae Lawson also weighed in during spring practice interviews:
“It’s about building for life after football. The coaches always remind us the NFL isn’t guaranteed, but a degree is. We push each other in the classroom just like we do in the weight room.”
These player voices highlight a generational shift. Increasingly, student-athletes are aware of the bigger picture, valuing their education as a foundational piece of long-term success.
It’s not just local fans and alumni taking notice. Alabama’s record-setting GPA was acknowledged across national media platforms, earning praise from former players, analysts, and academic-focused organizations.
Additionally, this success could have a powerful impact on recruiting. In a recruiting landscape where every program is trying to find an edge, Alabama’s ability to consistently develop NFL stars and help players graduate with honor is a major selling point.
Parents, especially, are increasingly prioritizing programs where education is taken seriously. Alabama’s latest achievement gives them a persuasive talking point in living rooms across the country.
Within the broader context of the SEC, Alabama’s academic success is part of a growing trend. Programs across the conference are investing more in academic services, mental health resources, and personal development programming.
However, Alabama’s consistency and improvement year after year sets them apart. This isn’t a one-off semester. It’s a pattern of academic excellence that mirrors the discipline seen in their football operations.
It also sets a challenge for other top programs—especially those who aspire to match Alabama not only on the scoreboard but in producing well-rounded student-athletes.
With spring practice already underway and the 2025 season fast approaching, Alabama’s players are turning their attention back to football. But the momentum built in the classroom will carry over.
The lessons learned in study sessions, late-night paper writing, and managing academic stress are invaluable. They translate into mental toughness, preparation habits, and a sense of personal responsibility that ultimately makes Alabama not just a better football team—but a stronger family.
Coach DeBoer, academic advisors, tutors, and student-athletes alike now face a new question: Can they beat this record again?
If history is any indicator, the Crimson Tide won’t just rest on this achievement. They’ll treat it like every other aspect of their operation—a new standard to surpass.
In a college football landscape often defined by headlines about transfers, contracts, and controversies, Alabama’s academic milestone is a refreshing—and important—story. It proves that academic achievement and athletic dominance are not mutually exclusive.
As the Crimson Tide march forward into a new era under Kalen DeBoer, their commitment to producing leaders both on and off the field stands firm. With a 3.29 GPA and over 100 student-athletes achieving academic honors, Alabama football has once again set the bar—for themselves, for the SEC, and for the nation.
And true to their DNA, they’ll be back to break it again.
