Alabama Emphasizing Road Performances in 2025

Alabama went 9-4 in the first season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. While it's not considered a failure for the Crimson Tide, the 2024 season wasn't considered a raging success either.

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All four of Alabama's losses came away from Bryant-Denny Stadium, with three occurring on the road against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, and one in the Reliaquest Bowl (played in Tampa, Florida), against the Michigan Wolverines.

Road performances have been a big point of emphasis for head coach Kalen DeBoer as he prepares to lead Alabama into his second season as the Crimson Tide's head coach.

"Starting fast. You've got to start fast," DeBoer said on Monday. "You dig yourself a hole on the road, it gets hard, the crowd gets behind the home team. It comes down to execution, to preparation, and the work happening on the football field (Tuesday), Wednesday, and Thursday. So it's the same old thing. Starting fast and giving yourself - not that you don't have the belief - but (reaching) another level of momentum. As much as anything, taking it away from them, especially in an environment that we know will be a good one down there in Tallahassee."

When Alabama kicks off against Florida State, it'll be the first time Alabama has opened its season in a true road game since the 2000 season. Alabama fell to UCLA 35-24 in Pasadena, California, in that game.

As a Division I head coach, Kalen DeBoer has never opened a season on the road. In 2020, Fresno State opened at home against Hawaii. In 2021, Fresno State opened at home against UConn. In 2022, DeBoer and Washington opened the season at home against Kent State, and in 2023, Washington opened the season at home against Boise State. Last season at Alabama, DeBoer opened the season at home against Western Kentucky. Alabama's season opener, on the road, is uncharted territory for all.

DeBoer talked about it on Monday as he previewed the Tide's game against Florida State.

"I think you just go back to any big road games you play. And this one, being the first game of the season, the first one is always big," DeBoer said. "It's always big because it's the next one. Then I think getting the season off to a good start, that's important; that makes it big.

"I think what it does is it gives you an urgency in fall camp, playing big games like this. It's kept the focus of fall camp at a high level. You've got to be at your best because you know your opponent is. We know they've got a lot they want to prove. They want to open up their season in a big way, so I think the guys have done a great job of just focusing on us, on what we can control, being in the moment. I know these are cliches, but I think these guys have really done a good job."

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.