Look, the 2024 season was a fever dream for anyone who bleeds crimson. For the first time in nearly two decades, Nick Saban wasn't the guy prowling the sidelines with a headset and a scowl. Enter Kalen DeBoer. People thought the University of Alabama football schedule 2024 would be a victory lap or a total collapse.
It was neither. It was a rollercoaster.
If you just look at the 9-4 final record, you’re missing the actual story. This wasn't just about wins and losses; it was about an identity crisis in the post-Saban era. We saw a team that looked like the best in the country for thirty minutes against Georgia and then turned around and lost to Vanderbilt. Yes, Vanderbilt. Honestly, if you had told a Bama fan in August that they’d lose to the Commodores, they would’ve laughed you out of the state.
The Gauntlet: Breaking Down the 2024 Results
The season started exactly how you'd expect. A 63-0 blowout of Western Kentucky and a slightly sluggish but fine 42-16 win over USF. Then came the trip to Madison. Beating Wisconsin 42-10 on the road felt like a statement. It felt like "business as usual."
Then things got weird.
September 28th was the peak. Georgia came to Tuscaloosa. Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead so fast it felt like a video game. But the Dawgs roared back, and it took a 75-yard touchdown from freshman phenom Ryan Williams to save the night 41-34. At that moment, Alabama was No. 1. The world was theirs.
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The Mid-Season Stumble
Then the wheels didn't just come off—they exploded.
- Oct 5: A 40-35 loss at Vanderbilt. A historic, program-shaking upset.
- Oct 12: A narrow 27-25 escape against South Carolina that felt like a loss.
- Oct 19: Losing the Third Saturday in October to Tennessee, 24-17.
Two losses in three weeks? In Tuscaloosa, that’s a national emergency. Jalen Milroe, who looked like a Heisman lock in September, started struggling with turnovers. The "Swarm" defense under Kane Wommack was getting gouged by intermediate passes and mobile quarterbacks. It was messy. Sorta felt like the end of an empire for a second there.
Why the Back Half of the Schedule Saved DeBoer
You have to give DeBoer credit. He didn't lose the locker room. Most coaches would have folded after the Tennessee loss. Instead, the Tide came home and absolutely dismantled Missouri 34-0. That was the reset button.
Then came the trip to Death Valley.
Beating LSU 42-13 in Baton Rouge is never easy, but Alabama made it look like a scrimmage. Milroe ran for four touchdowns. It was a vintage performance that reminded everyone why this roster is still loaded with five-star talent. They followed it up by crushing Mercer 52-7.
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But the schedule had one more nasty surprise.
The trip to Norman on November 23rd was a disaster. A 24-3 loss to Oklahoma where the offense just... evaporated. Three interceptions. Zero rhythm. It was a reminder that this team was still incredibly young and inconsistent. They managed to salvage the regular season with a 28-14 Iron Bowl win over Auburn, but the "Bama Standard" was clearly in a state of flux.
The Post-Season Reality Check
Because of those three SEC losses, Alabama missed the SEC Championship game. They finished 9-4 overall after a 19-13 loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year's Eve. For the first time since 2007, Alabama failed to reach ten wins.
Think about that.
An entire generation of Bama fans has never seen a season this "average." But was it really a failure? Most experts, including guys like Josh Pate and the crew at College Football Nerds, pointed out that the transition from Saban to DeBoer was never going to be seamless. Losing Caleb Downs to the portal and Kadyn Proctor (briefly) hurt the depth.
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The 2024 schedule proved that the SEC is deeper than ever. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the fray, there are no more "off weeks."
Key Lessons from the 2024 Campaign
The biggest takeaway wasn't the losses, it was the emergence of Ryan Williams. The kid is 17 and playing like an All-American. He finished the season as the clear WR1 and the heartbeat of the offense.
The defense is also evolving. While they struggled with consistency, the duo of Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell at linebacker proved they can play with anyone. The secondary is where the real work needs to happen. Getting burned by Vanderbilt and Tennessee showed that the "no-fly zone" of the past needs a serious talent injection in the portal.
Moving Forward: What Happens Next?
If you're looking at this 2024 run and thinking the dynasty is over, you're probably overreacting. But if you think Alabama can just "out-talent" people anymore, you're wrong. The 2024 season was a cold shower.
Here is what needs to happen for a 2025 bounce-back:
- Lock down the O-Line: The inconsistency in the run game against Oklahoma and Tennessee was the biggest hurdle.
- Develop Ty Simpson: With Milroe’s ups and downs, the quarterback competition will be the story of the spring.
- Secondary Depth: Alabama cannot afford to be "thin" at corner in a league with Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin.
The 2024 season was the bridge between two eras. It was frustrating, exhilarating, and occasionally depressing. But it provided a roadmap. The "Bama Standard" hasn't changed, but the path to getting there certainly has.
To keep up with how the roster is shaking out for next year, start tracking the spring transfer portal window which opens in mid-April. This is where DeBoer will need to fix the defensive backfield issues that plagued the Tennessee and Vanderbilt games. Also, keep an eye on the early enrollee reports from spring practice—specifically the offensive line depth, as that was the true Achilles' heel during the 2024 road losses.