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ESPN college football analyst Bill Connelly thinks the Alabama Crimson Tide have as good a chance as almost anyone to win the national championship in 2025.
Connelly, a leading figure behind ESPN’s popular analytics-driven SP+ rankings, recently listed potential title contenders for 2025 with his annual ‘what-ifs’ for each team. Alabama tied with Penn State for the fewest question marks entering the season with only two.
Alabama’s ‘what-ifs’: the quarterback position, led for the moment by junior Ty Simpson, and the defense’s ability to get after the quarterback.
To the former, coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb named Simpson the frontrunner as spring practice wrapped up in April following Alabama’s annual A-Day event.
The concern for Simpson is obvious, mainly his lack of experience. In parts of three seasons, he’s 29-of-50 for 381 yards through the air while rushing for 130 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. Most of that was in mop-up duty with the exception of Alabama’s ugly 17-3 win at South Florida in September 2023.
Simpson’s next college start will be his first, but Connelly contends that Simpson may not necessarily need to be elite in order to succeed. Think of Jake Coker, who led Alabama to the national championship in 2015.
Connelly said:
“Honestly, after Jalen Milroe’s negative-play troubles in 2024 (11 interceptions, 9 fumbles, 23 sacks), there’s a path for Simpson to succeed by simply making sure the team in crimson controls the ball. He’ll have strong weapons to whom he can distribute the ball — Ryan Williams, slot man Germie Bernard, Miami transfer Isaiah Horton, young former star recruits such as Jaylen Mbakwe, Jalen Hale and Cole Adams — and lord knows he has waited for this opportunity. If he can’t deliver early, sophomore Austin Mack or freshman Keelon…
Source link : https://rolltidewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/crimson-tide/football/2025/07/26/alabama-football-schedule-2025-biggest-what-ifs/85383202007/
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Publish date : 2025-07-26 13:01:00
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