Only Four Saturdays Remain Until Alabama Football Returns, and the Countdown to a New Crimson Tide Era Is Officially On
With just four Saturdays standing between now and kickoff, the countdown to Alabama Crimson Tide football is beginning to feel very real. In Tuscaloosa and throughout the college football world, fans can almost hear the roar of Bryant-Denny Stadium, smell the tailgate smoke, and feel the tension of a new season rising. Four Saturdays. That’s all that separates the Tide from their much-anticipated return to the field, and the expectations—like always—are enormous.
This year, however, feels different. For the first time in over a decade, Alabama will begin a season without Nick Saban on the sidelines. His retirement sent shockwaves through the sport and marked the end of one of the most dominant coaching eras in football history. In his place steps Kalen DeBoer, fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance with Washington and widely respected for his offensive mind, calm demeanor, and track record of winning. Still, there’s a massive difference between succeeding in Seattle and living up to the standard in Tuscaloosa.
That’s what makes this countdown to kickoff feel both thrilling and uncertain. Alabama is still Alabama—loaded with blue-chip talent, backed by a rabid fanbase, and expected to compete for national titles—but now it’s Alabama under new leadership. And that change introduces a rare element into the program: unpredictability.
The August heat is unforgiving, but that hasn’t stopped fans from flooding practice fields, dissecting every clip from fall camp, and buzzing about position battles. At quarterback, Jalen Milroe returns as the presumed starter after a breakout 2024 season in which he displayed growth as a passer, leadership as a teammate, and electric athleticism few in the country can match. Milroe’s combination of arm strength and mobility gives Alabama a dynamic weapon at the most important position on the field, and he enters the year as both a team captain and a potential Heisman contender.
Still, the new offensive scheme under coordinator Ryan Grubb has added an extra layer of complexity to his preparation. Milroe is no longer being asked to simply make plays—he’s expected to fully operate a rhythm-based, timing-heavy system that rewards precision, not just improvisation. By all accounts, he’s embraced the challenge. Coaches and teammates have praised his work ethic, his improved film study habits, and his growing comfort with the playbook. But Grubb isn’t shy about pushing him. “We want to get everything out of him,” he said. “He’s capable of special things. Now it’s about consistency and execution.”
Elsewhere on the offense, eyes are fixed on the wide receiver group—a unit that has quietly reloaded with explosive talent. Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Jalen Hale, and Jaren Hamilton all return with experience, but it’s the potential emergence of sophomore Malik Benson or true freshman phenom Aiden Dennis that has insiders buzzing. Grubb recently teased that a particular wideout is “a presence” on the field, someone whose impact goes beyond stats and who could be the offense’s not-so-secret weapon.
The offensive line, a unit that struggled with cohesion at times last season, is undergoing a reshuffle. Massive tackle Kadyn Proctor transferred out and then back in, and the interior of the line features a mix of veterans and new faces. The goal is clear: protect Milroe and reestablish a physical, downhill run game that opens everything else up. Running backs Justice Haynes and Jam Miller are poised to carry the load. Haynes, in particular, looks ready to take the leap into stardom. He runs with vision, balance, and power, and he’ll be a central piece of Grubb’s offensive plans.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is adjusting to new coordinator Kane Wommack, who brings an aggressive, attacking philosophy to Tuscaloosa. After years of playing under Saban’s structured, complex scheme, the shift to a more downhill, simplified style has been refreshing for many players. Linebacker Deontae Lawson, one of the leaders of the defense, described it as “fast and free,” a system that allows playmakers to be instinctive rather than overthinking.
Alabama’s secondary, always a point of pride, is reloading once again. The cornerback room is deep, with Earl Little Jr. and Trey Amos among the top returners, while the safety group looks to replace the leadership of Kool-Aid McKinstry and Malachi Moore. The Tide’s front seven will be anchored by returning edge rusher Dallas Turner and young talents like James Smith and Keon Keeley. Wommack’s defense will ask them to do more than just contain—it will ask them to create havoc.
Perhaps the biggest adjustment for the players, however, has nothing to do with schemes or position battles—it’s about culture. Kalen DeBoer has spoken frequently about honoring the foundation that Nick Saban built while also forging his own path. His approach is quieter, less domineering, but still demanding. He emphasizes communication, accountability, and trust, and early reports suggest the players have bought in. “It’s a different tone,” one veteran said, “but the standard hasn’t changed.”
That standard is what makes Alabama Alabama. No other program in college football faces the same week-to-week pressure to dominate. No other fanbase is quite as impatient or as passionate. The legacy of championships doesn’t allow for rebuilding seasons or moral victories. It’s win now—or hear about it.
That’s why this final stretch—these last four Saturdays—feels so intense. Every practice rep, every coaching tweak, every depth chart update carries weight. And it’s not just about the opener against Western Kentucky; it’s about preparing for what comes after. Week 2 brings a massive road trip to Madison to face Wisconsin in their raucous, renovated stadium. Then there’s a mid-season gauntlet that includes Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and a potentially season-defining trip to Oklahoma. This isn’t a schedule that allows for a slow start.
Fans know it. Players know it. Coaches feel it every time they walk into the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility. Alabama doesn’t get grace periods. Four weeks from now, when they run out of the tunnel for the first time in 2025, it will be for real. No do-overs. No easing in.
But this team may be uniquely positioned to thrive under those circumstances. While much of the national conversation has focused on Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas, Alabama has been quietly grinding. They’ve embraced the underdog narrative—a strange but motivating concept for a program as decorated as any in the country. The loss to Michigan in last year’s College Football Playoff was bitter, especially given the opportunities left on the field. But it also lit a fire.
Milroe returned to finish what he started. DeBoer accepted the job knowing the risk and the responsibility. Veterans stayed through portal madness, young players took developmental leaps, and the staff has worked tirelessly to build cohesion in a short amount of time.
So now, here we are. Four Saturdays left.
Four more weekends of speculation before reality arrives. Four more Saturdays to settle the depth chart, install final packages, and decide who will lead this team onto the field. Four more Saturdays until Alabama begins a new chapter—one that honors the past but is unapologetically focused on the present and future.
The buzz is back in Tuscaloosa. The energy is building with every camp update and every social media post. The fans can’t wait. The players can’t wait. And after months of speculation, grief, excitement, skepticism, and hope, it’s almost time to see what this new era of Crimson Tide football is really made of.
The dynasty is not dead. It’s evolving.
And in just four Saturdays, the rest of the country will get its first look at what’s next.
