These 5 pivotal games will define Alabama’s 2025 season

The time has arrived. Alabama football officially begins the 2025 season this week.

The Crimson Tide opens things up against Florida State on the road Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Although a win would start the 2025 campaign strong, this non-conference game won’t define Alabama’s season.

Instead, these five games will have much more weight in defining what kind of season Alabama has.

At Georgia: Sept. 27

This is one of those games expected not only to define Alabama’s season but also the SEC and the college football picture. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are expected to be two of the top teams in the country again. Georgia is ranked No. 5 and Alabama is ranked No. 8. By the time of this matchup, it wouldn’t be shocking to see both squads ranked in the top five.

Georgia will be seeking revenge from a season ago. Alabama will look to start the conference slate off with a statement road win. Considering the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide both figure to be in the race to win the conference, this early game could easily be the deciding factor for a spot in Atlanta.

This is the epitome of a defining game. It will tell us early where Alabama stands as a contender or a pretender.

At Missouri: Oct. 11

This game has the ingredients of a trap game.

It’s sandwiched between two emotional games in which Alabama will look to avenge losses from 2024: Vanderbilt (Oct. 4) and Tennessee (Oct. 18). It’s also a road game against an opponent figured to be lesser than the Crimson Tide. Alabama struggled in a few of those road matchups a season ago (Vanderbilt and Oklahoma).

This game probably won’t end up being one of the best on Alabama’s resume, but winning this one would prove the Crimson Tide can take care of business in matchup conditions built for an upset.

LSU: Nov. 8

This is expected to be another game with conference and CFP ramifications.

If Alabama can win this game, it will likely be one of the strongest wins on the resume. Losing this game could mean the difference between a trip to Atlanta and watching conference championship Saturday from home. It could also impact playoff berths, too.

This game is right up there with Georgia as two most likely to define the Alabama season.

Oklahoma: Nov. 15

Fresh off what figures to be a tough game against LSU, Alabama will have to turn around the next week and prepare for a Sooners team that should be improved from a season ago. The pairing of quarterback John Mateer with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle again has the chance to pay colossal dividends. Mateer and Arbuckle joined the Sooners this offseason after success together at Washington State, where they had an offense average 36.8 points per game a season ago, which ranked 12th in the nation. If Oklahoma can replicate its top 20 defense from a season ago as well, the Sooners could be a contender in the SEC.

A struggling Oklahoma team gave Alabama all kinds of troubles in Norman a season ago as the Crimson Tide fell 24-3. An improved Sooners team could be even more of a problem, even if it is in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This game should test Alabama.

At Auburn: Nov. 29

Forget the SEC standings or the CFP. It’s the Iron Bowl. The in-state bragging rights matter.

Alabama might have bigger aspirations past winning the Iron Bowl, but this matchup still has significance. When the 2025 season is remembered, this result on the Plains will be talked about in some form or fashion. Especially if the Crimson Tide loses.