Greg McElroy Reveals College Football Team as a 'Legitimate' National Championship Contender

Greg McElroy Reveals College Football Team as a 'Legitimate' National Championship Contender originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are desperately hoping to return to competing for national titles, a common occurrence during the Nick Saban era.

Kalen DeBoer is now the head coach and is fresh off a 9-4 season in his first year in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer took the Washington Huskies to the national championship in 2023, and Greg McElroy thinks the same can happen for the Crimson Tide in 2025.

McElroy called Alabama a "legitimate" national championship contender on a recent episode of "Always College Football."

Alabama's last national title of the Saban era was in 2020, when the team defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24.

"I think Alabama has a big year," McElroy said. "I'm a believer. I'm buying. I think they are a legitimate national championship contender in year number two for Kalen DeBoer."

The Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff last year after going 9-3 during the regular season. The 2024 season was the first time that the 12-team format was used for the playoff.

Alabama had the third-best odds to make the CFP among SEC teams, at -180, according to Circa Sportsbook. The Crimson Tide's trip to the playoff in 2023 ended with a 27-20 overtime loss to the Michigan Wolverines, and Saban retired shortly after.

The team returns top talent on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Ty Simpson, receiver Ryan Williams, linebacker Deonte Lawson and cornerback Domani Jackson.

Simpson was named the starting quarterback after being the backup for the last three seasons. The former five-star prospect brings 16 games of experience with him into the 2025 season.

An elite prospect from the 2026 class named Alabama as a finalist recently. Four-star in-state edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes included the Crimson Tide in his final five schools, but went with the Auburn Tigers instead.

Alabama opens the 2025 season with the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.