It was a major move.
Paul Finebaum Reveals SEC’s 'Most Significant' Offseason Move Turns Team Into 'Legitimate' Title Threat originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The college football offseason has been filled with significant storylines. Notably, Tennessee Volunteers' starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the team on the day of the spring game. Additionally, Bill Belichick was hired as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, and we are witnessing the beginning of the Arch Manning era.
This offseason has generated numerous discussion topics. One of the most significant is the Alabama Crimson Tide's hiring of Ryan Grubb as their offensive coordinator. Grubb has a long-standing relationship with head coach Kalen DeBoer that dates back to their time coaching the Sioux Falls Cougars in Division II. He then served as DeBoer's offensive coordinator with both the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Washington Huskies.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst stated that Grubb's arrival at Alabama makes the Crimson Tide a serious contender for the national championship.
"If you asked me what the most significant offseason change in the SEC is, that is it," Finebaum said. "Alabama was good last year; they were capable of being great. But they were missing something. I'm gambling, but I think you are too; that was the missing something that Alabama didn't have. We'll know pretty quickly if that was it. I think it is. As a result, Alabama is a legitimate national championship contender."
Grubb initially decided to follow DeBoer to Alabama, but later changed his mind and chose to accept the offensive coordinator position with the Seattle Seahawks. Consequently, Nick Sheridan was appointed as Alabama's new offensive coordinator.
Grubb and DeBoer have established a strong partnership. During their last two years at Washington, the Huskies ranked No. 2 in total offense in 2022 and No. 12 in 2023, which contributed to their advancement to the 2023 national championship game. For comparison, Alabama was No. 42 in total offense last season.
Ryan Grubb Played Key Role in Developing First-Round NFL Draft Pick
The last college quarterback to work with Grubb as his offensive coordinator was Michael Penix Jr., who went on to become a Heisman Trophy finalist and was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
For this season, Ty Simpson will be the starting quarterback. Simpson is a former five-star prospect. He competed against Austin Mack, who was initially committed to Grubb and DeBoer at Washington before following DeBoer to Alabama, as well as five-star true freshman Keelon Russell.
The challenge for these players is their lack of experience. Simpson has only thrown 50 passes in his career, totaling 381 yards. Mack has attempted just three passes, while Russell has yet to throw a pass.
Alabama's Rankings Heading into the 2025 College Football Season
The Crimson Tide are highly regarded as they head into this season, partly due to Grubb's return to a DeBoer-led staff. Here are Alabama's rankings for the upcoming season:
- No. 8 in the AP Poll
- No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll
- No. 3 in ESPN's Football Power Index
- No. 2 in ESPN's SP+ Rankings
The Crimson Tide will start the season away against the Florida State Seminoles at 3:30 p.m. ET Aug. 30 on ABC.
Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals What Might Cost Alabama a National Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
