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New York Times
23-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
College Football Playoff hopefuls: Should we buy what these teams are selling?
We're exactly a month away from Kansas State and Iowa State kicking off the 2026 college football season in Ireland. Before we get there, we'll have to spend the next several weeks in training camp mode. Jobs will be won. Surprises will emerge. Injuries will occur. And since everyone is still undefeated, hope will be sold. Advertisement A few weeks ago, 'The Athletic Football Show' took a look at the stories teams are telling themselves as a new NFL season approaches. We liked the concept so much that we're trying out a variation of it here on the college football side of things. Today, we're highlighting the narratives that College Football Playoff hopefuls are selling this preseason. Some of these are worth buying into. Some are not. Note: This list is looking at programs that did not reach the 12-team CFP last season. The Crimson Tide scored 17 points or fewer in losses to Tennessee, Oklahoma and Michigan last season as they finished 9-4 and failed to reach the Playoff in coach Kalen DeBoer's first season. But the offense is going to take a considerable step forward this season with the arrival of coordinator Ryan Grubb, who has coached with DeBoer at Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Washington, where they reached the CFP championship game in 2023. Grubb was the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2024 — after he spent a month at Alabama following DeBoer's hire — but was fired after just one season. The 2024 season demonstrated that DeBoer and Grubb are better together than they are apart, and that familiarity will boost the Crimson Tide's offense this fall. And while Jalen Milroe is a unique talent at quarterback, he wasn't an ideal fit for DeBoer's offense. Now Alabama is likely to have a steadier passer in place (presumably Ty Simpson), which will unlock the passing attack and allow the offense to take advantage of a talented group of receivers, led by star sophomore Ryan Williams. The Grubb hire and better fit at quarterback will provide the offensive consistency that was missing in 2024 and will help Alabama, which brings back a strong core from a top-10 scoring defense, return to the Playoff and compete for the national championship again. Advertisement It's Year 2 for DJ Lagway, and he and the program are ready to take a major leap. Look at how the Gators finished last season, winning their last four games, which included victories over good LSU and Ole Miss squads. Lagway sat out the spring because of shoulder soreness but said last week at SEC media day that he's fully recovered. Florida coach Billy Napier preached a slow build when he took the job more than three years ago, and this is when the program will start to see the fruits of the labor. Florida will be strong in the trenches, particularly along the defensive line with Tyreak Sapp. And the Gators have added two talented receivers in true freshman Dallas Wilson and UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant. Lagway possesses the ability to elevate those around him, so expect Florida to become a real threat now that the former five-star recruit is surrounded with strong talent across the roster. And, no, don't look at Florida's schedule. The Fighting Illini return 16 starters from the program's first 10-win team since 2001. Illinois' optimism for 2025 is less about selling the dream and is rooted more in reality. Coach Bret Bielema knows what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten and enters Year 5 with the Illini and Year 3 with Luke Altmyer, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, under center. That sort of continuity is difficult to find in college football these days. And while the schedule isn't easy — there are road games at Duke, Indiana and Washington and a home game against Ohio State — it's definitely manageable for a team with CFP aspirations. The Illini check a lot of boxes. Good head coach. Solid quarterback. An experienced, veteran team. A schedule that doesn't feature too many heavyweights. And there's the built-in confidence from last year to set the table for a potential breakthrough season. Advertisement Quarterback Avery Johnson went through the natural growing pains you would expect from a first-year starter, but those are behind him now, and his development and consistency will help the Wildcats contend in the Big 12 after going 5-4 in league play in 2024. Kansas State returns dynamic receiver Jayce Brown, who will be Johnson's top target. And Matt Wells' ascension to offensive coordinator and play caller will also help Johnson's development. With Johnson, Brown and running back Dylan Edwards, Wells will have explosive players at his disposal. The line will be the strength of the Kansas State defense and should help take some pressure off a new-look secondary. In a wide-open Big 12, the ingredients are there for a conference title run. The Tigers recognize that they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Garrett Nussmeier, so they went all-in this offseason — landing the best transfer portal class in the country — which will put them in contention for their first CFP trip since winning the 2019 national championship. LSU will be better at the skill spots, led by transfer receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (LSU). The Tigers also addressed their most pressing need — the defensive line — with the additions of Florida State's Patrick Payton, Florida's Jack Pyburn and USF's Bernard Gooden. They should help a defense that gave up 5.9 yards per play last season (89th nationally). There are also some high-impact freshmen at positions of need in corner DJ Pickett and running back Harlem Berry. This is the most talented roster Brian Kelly has had at LSU, and he's finally got the Tigers to the point where they can compete for a national championship. The Hurricanes placed a major emphasis on fixing the defensive issues that sabotaged their 2024 season, and now they have what it takes to finally reach the Playoff with coach Mario Cristobal. Miami hired Corey Hetherman as defensive coordinator after he led Minnesota to a top-15 finish in scoring defense and yards per play allowed. The Canes also brought in six transfers in the secondary to fix a unit that was a weakness last year. Advertisement The offense lost a lot of production, too, but brought in some experienced talent, headlined by Carson Beck, one of the top transfer quarterbacks available in the offseason. Cristobal has recruited well during his tenure. So the talent is there, especially compared to ACC foes. The schedule — at SMU on Nov. 1 is the toughest road game — sets up well, too. With that combination, Miami should be in the Playoff this fall — if it can avoid the typical pitfalls that have plagued Cristobal's teams over the years. The Gamecocks lost some really important pieces on both sides of the ball, but quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart are foundational building blocks and two of the best players in the SEC. So there's top-end talent and a solid transfer class that helped address some needs in key spots. It took a while for South Carolina to find its footing last season. The Gamecocks started 3-3 before winning six consecutive games to end the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the country. Sellers' ankle injury contributed to that slow start, and we saw what he's truly capable of later in the season. In theory, South Carolina wasn't far off from a Playoff appearance last year — probably one win away. If the Gamecocks can avoid a similar slow start this season, they should be in contention for a CFP bid late in the year. Despite major defensive issues and deficiencies at receiver, Texas A&M was still in the mix for the SEC Championship Game late in the season. Quarterback Marcel Reed displayed some promising flashes, and the Aggies upgraded his receiving options through the portal with Kevin Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State). Cornerback transfers Julian Humphrey (Georgia) and Jordan Shaw (Washington) have solid experience and could help a pass defense that struggled last season. Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State), Dayon Hayes (Colorado) and T.J. Searcy (Florida) were brought in to boost a defensive front that needs to be better against the run and rushing the passer. Advertisement Head coach Mike Elko accomplished some good things in his first season, and the Aggies could be a CFP darkhorse candidate after addressing some of their issues in the offseason. The Big 12 is wide open and there for the taking, which is why the Red Raiders spent so much money to upgrade their roster this offseason. Will other programs be jealous of that spending? Sure. Does it raise expectations in a manner Texas Tech has never really faced before? Absolutely. But any program would love to have transfer additions such as edge rusher David Bailey (Stanford), offensive tackle Howard Sampson (North Carolina) and running back Quinten Joyner (USC) — especially in a league that isn't loaded with future NFL talent like the SEC or Big Ten. The Red Raiders were close to conference title contention last season, one win away from being involved in a convoluted multi-team tie for first place. So they weren't that far off. Now with full buy-in from the donors, the administration and coaching staff, Texas Tech is on the verge of ascending to heights it's never reached. (Top photo of Marcel Reed: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer: If We Played 'Today,' Ty Simpson Would Be Starting QB
While there were indications of who would be Alabama's starting quarterback for the 2025 college football season, head coach Kalen DeBoer painted a clearer picture of who that will be on Wednesday: Ty Simpson. "If we played today, he [Simpson] would be our starter," DeBoer said in an appearance on SEC Network at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. "We announced that kind of after the spring. Nothing's really changed since then. He's done a great job of continuing to grow himself. That's under the tutelage of [offensive coordinator] Ryan Grubb, [quarterbacks coach] Nick Sheridan. Those guys are just pouring it all into not just Ty, but our whole quarterback room. I'm excited about the growth of Ty. I think trying to make sure that a guy gets out there and doesn't feel like he's got to be all-world even though we want our quarterback to be more than just a guy that just distributes the ball. We need him to go out and make plays. He'll grow into that. He doesn't need to prove that and try to do too much. "Trust the guys around him, trust his offensive line, trust the receiving core that I think is improved, as well. Their relationships are important and their continuity. They're operating on a different level now than what they were a year ago, for sure." Simpson is entering his fourth season at Alabama, primarily serving as a backup quarterback from 2022-24. The 22-year-old signal-caller was a five-star recruit who committed to play for Alabama in 2021. After 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young left for the NFL following the 2022 season, Simpson lost an offseason quarterback competition to eventual two-year starter Jalen Milroe, who was the Crimson Tide's primary quarterback from 2023-24. Simpson, a redshirt junior, has appeared in 16 career games but has only thrown 50 combined passes. With Milroe being selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 92 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the starting job is Simpson's for the taking next season. Elsewhere in Alabama's quarterback room are senior Cade Carruth, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, sophomore John Cooper and freshmen Keelon Russell and John Gazzaniga. Carruth and Russell were five-star recruits. The Crimson Tide are entering their second season with DeBoer, who previously went a combined 25-3 at Washington, as head coach, as he replaced Nick Saban following the seven-time national champion head coach's retirement. Last season, Alabama went 9-4 (5-3 in SEC play), missed the College Football Playoff and lost to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Alabama opens the 2025 season on the road against Florida State on Aug. 30. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CFB Analyst Drops Bold Ty Simpson Prediction for 2025
CFB Analyst Drops Bold Ty Simpson Prediction for 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Alabama Crimson Tide enters the first season with Ty Simpson starting at quarterback in 2025. On a recent edition of "The Sharpe Shooters Podcast," Cover Crimson's Clint Lamb believed the Alabama gunslinger could be one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC and college football in terms of passing yards. Advertisement Simpson has been the Crimson Tide's backup quarterback for three seasons and is in the second year under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Alabama averaged 236.4 passing yards per game last season, which ranked eighth in the SEC, but has brought in pass-heavy offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who was with DeBoer at the Washington Huskies. Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15).© Will McLelland-Imagn Images "If the passing game is as effective as I think it can be, and you have an offensive coordinator who kinda likes to lean into that when it is effective, then he could get plenty of opportunities, which could lead to some pretty absurd numbers," Lamb said. "I could see him being one of the leaders in the SEC and in college football." Advertisement The numbers back up Lamb's claim, as Grubb's Washington offense in 2023 finished second in the Pac-12 for passing yards per game with 343.7. After DeBoer left for Alabama, Grubb took a job as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks under head coach Mike Macdonald. Simpson has already been busy after being named the starting quarterback for Alabama. He attended the Manning Passing Academy and said it was something on his bucket list. He also revealed what Alabama was missing in 2024 after finishing 9-4. Simpson has played in 16 games for the Crimson Tide since 2022. He has thrown for 381 passing yards and has yet to throw a touchdown for the program. Advertisement Alabama opens the 2025 season against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Related: Mother of Recent Alabama 5-Star Commit Shuts Down Nick Saban Rumor This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SEC Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025
It's not easy getting college football coaches to honestly comment on another coach, player or team. Most coaches don't want to give opposing teams bulletin board material, which is why there is a lot of coach speak or overused cliches used during the year. In order to get an accurate assessment of teams heading into 2025, Athlon asked coaches in the SEC to talk anonymously about their opponents. Advertisement Note: These scouting reports come directly from coaching staffs and do not necessarily reflect the views of Athlon's editorial staff. [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] SEC Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoerJohn David Mercer-Imagn Images Alabama 'The expectations define this place. I think you'll see a competitive program that could end up in Atlanta and make the playoff, but this is a new era. Bama's not a surefire lock every season.' 'The good news for them is that you didn't see a lot of key pieces test their market value in the portal. I think Alabama got very serious about NIL and personnel very quickly.' 'Ryan Grubb coming over will make the offense better. [Nick] Sheridan's going to focus on development; he helped find and develop [Michael] Penix [Jr.] at Indiana.' Advertisement 'The biggest question will be quarterback, obviously, but they have a really solid offensive line, and the roster doesn't have any obvious holes to fill. They're going to compete for a playoff spot for sure.' Related: College Football's Top 25 Teams for 2025 Arkansas 'Last year, they did just enough to keep [Sam] Pittman off the hot seat, but it will be just as difficult this season. Sam has a ton of respect, but this roster isn't going to separate them.' 'They need better offensive line play, and they don't have SEC-level talent up front on defense.' 'The receivers are solid, and [Taylen] Green is solid, but they couldn't protect him, and they would get into trouble in third-and-obvious situations.' Advertisement 'I don't think they're competing at a top level in NIL right now. You look at the portal exits, and it's really hard for a mid- to low-tier program in this league to sustain bowl eligibility with this many extra holes to fill.' 'If they can find a better O-line, I think the offense can carry them back to that six- or seven-win level.' Auburn Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images 'Watch out here — they finally have a quarterback who can run [Hugh] Freeze's system, and they've done some really impressive work in the portal. They're not an elite team by any stretch, but this is the most complete roster Freeze has put together since he got there.' 'They finally have a quarterback, honestly. [Jackson] Arnold is not a world-beater, you can rattle him, but he's a Day 1 upgrade, and the receiving room is really deep. The Georgia Tech kid [Eric Singleton Jr.] is a legit baller and a big get.' 'This offense is going to be better, and that's going to help that defense a lot more. [DJ] Durkin's done a really good job with these guys, and it's what kept them in a lot of their games last year." 'I think this is a turnaround year for these guys, and they're definitely bowling.' Florida 'If [DJ] Lagway continues to develop and stays healthy, they're going to continue to improve.' Advertisement 'They don't have a killer at receiver, but they're solid at running back.' 'Defensively, they're young, but they've finally got some guys in there that look elite.' 'This is a massive year for [Billy] Napier. He survived because of the changing politics of the game and his buyout, but it ended up working out last season. Now he can show positive momentum with this group and start competing for the postseason.' 'Lagway and that offensive line are legit enough to bring back a true 'Florida offense.' If they can be in the hunt for a playoff bid and start scoring points like those old Gator programs, I think he'll be off the hot seat for a while.' 'Lagway could compete with Arch [Manning] for best QB in the league.' Georgia Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and QB Gunner StocktonDale Zanine-Imagn Images 'All eyes are on the offense. They have questions at pretty much every position group here. Is [Gunnar] Stockton a legit QB1? Can they replace the offensive line? Can the receiving corps improve? Do they have a guy behind [Nate] Frazier in the backfield? Last season, they looked sort of muddled. Not bad, but you got the idea they weren't confident in one particular area of their attack.' 'Defensively, it's still an elite group, but they're thin at linebacker.' 'I don't think this is the same level of talent we've seen in the last three or four years. I think you might see a decline, at least at first, on both lines of scrimmage.' 'The biggest question mark will be the offense under Stockton. They didn't chase any portal guys, so let's see if the kid can become elite.' Advertisement Related: College Football's Top 25 Teams for 2025 Kentucky 'The recipe for Kentucky's success under [Mark] Stoops isn't there right now, unless they hit on every portal guy they brought in and [Zach] Calzada is significantly better than he was the last time in the league.' 'They weren't aggressive or physical on the lines last season. They didn't really play like those Mark Stoops teams that would beat you up.' 'Stoops doesn't seem like the guy who's going to radically adjust to win in this NIL and portal era, and it's starting to show up on the field.' 'This is a make-or-break year for the future of this program. He's got a very friendly contract that makes him hard to fire, but right now it's hard to look at the overall roster here and think they're keeping pace with programs like Vanderbilt and South Carolina, who changed with the time.' LSU LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images 'Nuss [Garrett Nussmeier] is a legit talent, and they did a really good job finally getting serious in the portal to put weapons around him.' Advertisement 'They're going to take a significant step back on the offensive line, but they're better at the skill positions.' 'The big talk here is the way they've restructured. This isn't an autonomous coaching culture anymore. [GM] Austin Thomas has a huge role building the roster, and it showed this offseason. The internal evaluation of LSU football will look more professional; they're going to build BK [Brian Kelly] the best roster possible to go out and win games.' 'They have playoff expectations here, and it's a better depth chart than he's had in Baton Rouge. If they aren't in the CFP, I think there's some serious pressure here.' Mississippi State 'When [Blake] Shapen was healthy last season, the offense wasn't bad at all. He knows how to run that system.' Advertisement 'This was a thin roster to start with, and then they were hit hard in the portal.' 'Their biggest weakness outside of the defense is receiver, but they've portaled some guys who will start on the line right away. I think they'll improve on offense this season.' 'The defense is legitimately bad. This is the ultimate line-of scrimmage league, and they were the worst defensive line we saw last season. I think every one of their starters will be portaled, and some of those guys are very good, but even if they take that next step in the offensive system, the defensive front and run game defense have to improve dramatically. You don't have that in this league and you're dead.' Missouri 'One of the most underrated coaching staffs in the entire country. If they can flip the QB and rework the offensive line and win another 10 games, Eli [Drinkwitz] should be on everyone's short list." Advertisement 'The ULM running back [Ahmad Hardy] could do really well in this system; he might have a breakout year.' '[Beau] Pribula is a big, raw talent that could really thrive in Eli's offense. He needs to become more of a confident passer and rely less on his feet. He's such a physical runner, you wonder how often he can do that in this league and stay healthy.' 'This isn't an overly talented roster right now and might not win as many games, but the program's health and identity are strong. Eli really carved out a spot in the SEC and built a reliable winner.' Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images 'It's a hot-seat situation for sure. They're banking on an instant impact from [Ben] Arbuckle and [John] Mateer the way Vanderbilt brought in the New Mexico State coach/QB combo. That could happen. Their receivers were nonexistent last year, but a lot of that was injury. They should bounce back and give Mateer some options.' Advertisement 'Normally, it's not a great idea when a head coach goes back to play-calling, but hey, [Brent] Venables was one of the best in the nation at it when he was at Clemson. He wants to have more control over what he knows.' 'It's a huge gamble that Mateer can come in and immediately acclimate to playing against the defenses in this league. We'll see if he can do it because that's what will determine this staff's future.' Related: College Football's Top 25 Teams for 2025 Ole Miss 'The first program in the league that went all-in on portal players to take them to a playoff bid went bust. Now what? [Austin] Simmons is talented but unpolished, and it's going to take some time to develop him.' Advertisement 'They're one of the best programs in the country at evaluating the portal, and they've done a very good job integrating that talent and winning right away, but this is still an inconsistent program. The loss at Florida last year is an example of why [Lane] Kiffin isn't considered an elite coach.' 'They could be just as talented on defense and maybe bring Simmons along quickly, but they're still a step removed from the top-end programs. With the level of competition in this league, it's hard to see a roster like this one immediately come in and secure a playoff bid.' South Carolina 'The expectations are going to be sky-high for these guys. If they can continue to get that level of production from their defensive front and run the ball effectively, that's still the best, most reliable way to win games in this league.' Advertisement '[LaNorris] Sellers is a playmaker, but they really need to find a guy to replace Rocket [Sanders].' 'They're going to be loaded this year because they've brought in portal players to compliment the defense. I think the mentality here is that they know they've got one season to break through with Sellers before he's gone, and they're going to build the best roster they can in the short term.' 'It's playoff or bust for these guys because they're going to lose their best pieces at the end of the season.' Tennessee Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Losing Nico [Iamaleava] isn't good. They're not replacing him with a more talented quarterback, and they're losing the QB who ran their system in a playoff game. But because of the way everything went down, I don't think anyone blames the program or Josh [Heupel], and with the turnover on defense, Nico leaving makes a transition year a lot easier to stomach.' Advertisement 'The offense won't fall off a cliff; that system is effective at adjusting for personnel, even the quarterback.' 'The bigger question, even after Nico, is replacing the defensive starters who carried them in big games. The secondary is legit and probably their strength right now.' "They're going to take a step back and won't be a playoff team this season, but the quarterback play won't be awful.' Texas 'Right now, the belief is that Arch [Manning] will elevate the offense immediately, and you can expect a much more dynamic scheme from Sark [Steve Sarkisian]. This kid is a legit, Heisman-level package. Provided he produces at that level, the offense will be even better. They're stacked with talent.' Advertisement 'They could have one of the best defensive lines in the entire country. They have next-level pass rushers and the size and physicality to win against the run.' 'This program is one of the most effectively run in terms of personnel, NIL and the new era of the sport.' 'If Manning blows up and goes to the league next year, this is still the program to chase. They're professionalizing in a way other programs aren't.' Related: College Football's Top 25 Teams for 2025 Texas A&M Texas A&M head coach Mike ElkoMandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images 'They didn't finish strong, but the turnaround here was remarkable. As coaches, we talked about the culture at this place really falling to rock-bottom under Jimbo [Fisher]. You turn on the tape from [Mike] Elko, and those kids are playing harder, playing smarter. That's coaching, but it's culture. It's the want-to.' Advertisement 'They have a great run game, and the entire offensive line should be back. [Marcel] Reed's ceiling is still to be determined; he showed a lot of good and some bad last season.' 'Elko is going to be more involved on the defense, I think. The need position in the offseason was defensive line, so watch for that.' 'Elko understands A&M, and eventually this could be the most physical, aggressive team in the league.' Vanderbilt 'This is why you invest in NIL over facilities. This is why you have to be serious about personnel. Vanderbilt's coaches didn't suddenly learn how to coach. Clark [Lea] is a fantastic, sharp defensive mind, and now he's got a roster capable of winning games in the league.' Advertisement '[Diego] Pavia is an 'it factor' guy. He's not the most talented, but he's the definition of the college football playmaker. He's never out of it until the play is over, and the entire offense improves when he's clicking. I think you'll see more advanced concepts from them this season to mix up their standard option play.' 'They're still lacking depth on both lines of scrimmage. That's probably the biggest weakness right now.' 'With the attention on them, it will get a lot harder to win games.' Related: College Football Top 136 Team Rankings for 2025 Related: College Football's 10 Biggest Winners in 2025 Spring Transfer Portal Related: Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons Is Working on His Master's — and the Starting Job — at 19 SEC Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025 first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Alabama QB Issues Blunt Warning to Ryan Grubb Before 2025 Season
Ex-Alabama QB Issues Blunt Warning to Ryan Grubb Before 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After just one season as the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator in 2024, Nick Sheridan was demoted on paper to the team's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In his place, Alabama brought in Ryan Grubb, who was the Seattle Seahawks' OC last year, but has a long-standing relationship with Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer. Advertisement Grubb was part of the coaching staff with DeBoer during their shared tenures at Washington, Fresno State, Eastern Michigan and Sioux Falls, which goes back to 2007. College football analysts believe Alabama's offense will take a step forward in 2025, and some might conclude that Grubb is a better coordinator than Sheridan. However, former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron disagreed with such a stance while speaking with Chris Stewart and Trent Richardson on "The Dynasty." "Whenever you're the OC at Alabama," McCarron began. "You're going to catch hell, regardless. If you don't put up 35 to 50 points every game, it is what it is. ... I was with multiple OCs during my career at Alabama. It comes with the territory." Advertisement Last season, Alabama fell short of the program's high expectations in both its passing and rushing offense. The Crimson Tide ranked 56th in passing offense (236.4 yards per game) and 47th in rushing offense (173.8 ypg). Alabama scored 34.5 points per game, 21st in college football. While that's certainly a very good result, it's not quite good enough for a college football powerhouse that wants to be competing for national championships annually. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer (left), offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb (right)© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "I think the comfort level between Kalen (DeBoer) and Ryan Grubb probably settles him down as the head coach of this team. Just knowing what Ryan Grubb likes in certain situations." Advertisement Retaining Sheridan wasn't a given after Grubb was brought in. It only came with a later announcement that Sheridan would stay with the coaching staff and focus on quarterbacks. Sheridan was linked with DeBoer during their stints at the University of Indiana in 2019 when the former was the tight ends coach and the latter was the Hoosiers' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. McCarron makes it clear, even with all these relationships in play, results matter in Tuscaloosa. So, DeBoer, Grubb, Sheridan and the rest of the Crimson Tide staff must deliver offensively. In 2024, Alabama failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff and missing out on it again this season could put not just the coordinators on the heat seat, but DeBoer as well. Advertisement Related: Ryan Williams Reveals Conversation With Jeremiah Smith During College Football 26 Cover Shoot Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Reportedly Made a Move To Steal 5-Star WR Away From Alabama This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
