There has been recent conjecture that the CFP Selection Committee will consider Strength of Schedule (SOS) more next season. Had they done so in the 2024 season, Alabama Football would have been a Playoff participant. The Selection Committee's credibility was somewhat bailed out by the Crimson Tide's pathetic performance against Michigan. In the end, Alabama did not deserve a Playoff slot.
The Crimson Tide had a tough 2024 schedule, but 19 other FBS teams had tougher ones per ESPN's FPI. That number included 10 SEC football teams. It is too early for 2025 SOS calculations. Alabama will play the same SEC teams the Crimson Tide played last season. Based on 2024 team records, the 2025 out-of-conference schedule is weaker than last season. Florida State collapsed to a 2-10 record last season; Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) was 5-7; Wisconsin was also 5-7. FCS team, Eastern Illinois posted a 3-9 record.
The Seminoles could make a magical recovery in the 2025 season. Wisconsin could be an improved team. Even if the Noles and Badgers are not improved, Alabama Football will not need out-of-conference games to have a tough 2025 schedule.
January Top 25 projections don't mean much, but the early rankings indicate what teams are expected to improve or decline in the coming season. To estimate how much schedule difficulty Alabama will have, nine current Top 25 projections were reviewed. The sources were On3, ESPN, CBS Sports, SI, USA Today, Yahoo Sports, The Sporting News, Athlon, and Fox Sports.
Alabama Football was ranked as high as No. 3, and as low as No. 14. The Crimson Tide's ranking average was No. 10. For USA Today, Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith wrote about Alabama, "This is Alabama and Kalen DeBoer is under pressure after an inaugural season with four losses and the departure of quarterback Jalen Milroe. Ty Simpson is the expected replacement, and the skill positions look to be well-stocked with WR Ryan Williams likely to have more impact in his sophomore season. LB Deontae Lawson should be the anchor of a strong defense that has depth in the front seven and key returners in the secondary. This might be the best team in the SEC by the end of the season."
Myerberg and Smith are immediately elevated to College Football Guru status for their lofty prediction for the Crimson Tide. If The Crimson Tide is to become "the best team in the SEC" it will have to do so against a demanding SEC schedule.
Based on the nine Top 25 projections Alabama could have all but one of its eight SEC games against a Top 25 team. In the nine projections, Georgia was a unanimous Top 25 team with rankings from No. 1 to No. 7. The nine sources also picked Tennessee, South Carolina, and LSU. The Vols were ranked from No. 7 to No. 19; South Carolina was ranked from No. 8 to No. 14; LSU was ranked from No. 6 to No. 22.
Missouri was ranked by four of the nine sources, from No. 15 to No. 25. Auburn was ranked by two sources, at No. 11 and No. 25. Oklahoma received a ranking from one source at No. 18.
Alabama Football Away Games against ranked teams
The 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide will play four of the seven 'ranked' teams in road games; at Georgia; at Missouri; at South Carolina and at Auburn.