The post-Saban era was always going to be weird. Honestly, we all expected a few bumps, but the alabama football record last year tells a story that's way more complicated than just a win-loss column. Under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide finished the 2025 season with an 11-4 record.
That sounds like a "down" year for Alabama standards. Maybe it is. But when you look at how they got there—snapping Georgia's legendary home winning streak and navigating a playoff system that felt like a gauntlet—the perspective shifts. This wasn't the invincible machine of 2011. It was a gritty, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately elite team that found itself playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
The 2025 Regular Season: High Stakes and Heartbreaks
The season started with a massive reality check. A road trip to Tallahassee ended in a 31-17 loss to Florida State. People panicked. The "Alabama is dead" headlines started flying before the calendar even hit September.
But then, something clicked.
Alabama went on a tear. They absolutely demolished Louisiana-Monroe 73-0 and handled Wisconsin 38-14. The real turning point, though, was September 27. The Tide walked into Athens as underdogs. They left with a 24-21 win over Georgia, ending the Bulldogs' 33-game home winning streak. Quarterback Ty Simpson, who took over the reins this year, looked like a star under the lights of Sanford Stadium.
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The momentum carried them through October. They survived a scare against Missouri (27-24) and beat Tennessee 37-20 in the Third Saturday in October rivalry. By early November, Alabama was 8-1 and sitting pretty. Then came the Oklahoma game.
Losing 23-21 to Oklahoma at home was a gut punch. It messed with the SEC standings and left Bama fans biting their nails regarding the playoff race. They finished the regular season with a 27-20 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl—a game that was way closer than the experts predicted—ending the initial 12-game slate at 10-2.
Postseason Chaos: The SEC Title and the CFP
Because of the weird tie-breaking rules in the expanded SEC, Alabama actually made it to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. It was a rematch with Georgia. This time, the Bulldogs weren't playing around. Alabama looked tired and outmatched, falling 28-7.
Despite that loss, the alabama football record last year was strong enough to earn them a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
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- CFP First Round: Alabama had to go back to Norman to face Oklahoma. In a massive revenge game, the Tide won 34-24. It was arguably their most complete game of the year.
- CFP Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl): This is where the wheels came off. Facing a red-hot Indiana team (yes, Indiana), Alabama struggled to move the ball. The final score was a brutal 38-3.
It was a sour note to end on. A 15-game season is a long, grueling marathon, and by the time they hit Pasadena, the Tide just looked gassed.
Breaking Down the Numbers
If you’re a stat nerd, the 2025 season was a mixed bag. The offense averaged 29.5 points per game. That’s solid, but it ranked 50th in the country—not exactly the explosive "Bama" we’re used to seeing. The defense was the real backbone, holding opponents to 19.2 points per game (20th nationally).
| Key Stat | 2025 Performance |
|---|---|
| Overall Record | 11-4 |
| SEC Record | 7-1 (Regular Season) |
| Home Record | 6-1 |
| Road/Neutral | 5-3 |
| Points For | 443 |
| Points Against | 288 |
Ty Simpson finished the year with 3,953 passing yards and 32 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions. Those are elite numbers. The struggle was the run game, which averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in several key SEC matchups. When Alabama couldn't run, they became one-dimensional, and that's exactly what Indiana exploited in the playoffs.
Why This Record Matters for 2026
You've got to realize that 11-4 in the current era of college football is basically the old 10-2. With the 12-team playoff, teams are playing more games against top-tier opponents than ever before.
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The biggest takeaway from last year is that Kalen DeBoer can win the big ones. Beating Georgia on the road and winning a playoff game in his second year isn't nothing. However, the depth issues exposed in the Rose Bowl are real. Alabama lost a ton of talent to the NFL and the portal—names like Jalen Milroe and Tyler Booker from the previous year were missed.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at what this means moving forward, keep an eye on these three things:
- Quarterback Transition: With Ty Simpson entering the NFL Draft, the 2026 season hinges on Austin Mack or Keelon Russell. The "record last year" was built on Simpson's veteran presence; a new QB changes the floor and the ceiling.
- Defensive Identity: Kane Wommack's "Swarm" defense was actually pretty good last year. They forced turnovers and kept Bama in games when the offense stalled. If they can maintain that 19 PPG average, they'll stay in the hunt.
- The "Portal" Problem: Alabama is recruiting well (ranked No. 3 in 2025), but they need to stop the bleeding in the transfer portal. Losing 25+ players in a single offseason makes it impossible to build the kind of depth needed to survive a 16-game championship run.
The era of Saban's "process" is over, replaced by DeBoer's "hustle." It's different. It's heart-attack-inducing. But an 11-4 record with a playoff win shows that while the dynasty might have changed shape, the Tide isn't going anywhere.
To prepare for the upcoming season, fans should focus on the spring game performance of the offensive line. Last year's four losses were almost all characterized by a lack of protection in the second half. If the front five doesn't solidify by August, expect a similar rollercoaster in 2026.