A documentary series about the disappointing 2024 Alabama football season will be produced.

The 2024 season for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team was, in many ways, one of the most tumultuous and disappointing in recent memory. A season filled with promise, expectations, and the weight of history fell short in ways that fans and analysts alike couldn’t have predicted. As the Crimson Tide sought its 19th national championship under head coach Nick Saban, they found themselves beset by struggles in key areas of their game: inconsistency at quarterback, an offensive scheme that couldn’t keep pace with SEC opponents, and a defense that underperformed despite having a roster full of high-caliber talent.

Now, in an unprecedented move, a documentary series will delve into the behind-the-scenes of the 2024 Alabama football season, offering fans and critics alike an in-depth look at the highs and lows, the internal strife, and the journey of a program grappling with the pressures of staying at the top in a rapidly evolving college football landscape. This documentary promises to be a comprehensive exploration of a season that, while disappointing, provides invaluable lessons for the future of Alabama football and college football as a whole.

Here’s a look at what fans can expect from the highly anticipated series.

1. A Season Full of High Hopes and Expectations

As the 2024 season approached, Alabama fans were filled with optimism. Coming off an SEC Championship appearance in 2023 and a roster brimming with talent, including a strong defensive line, elite wide receivers, and a stable of running backs that could compete with the best in the nation, expectations were through the roof. The team, led by Nick Saban, was expected to challenge for the College Football Playoff and possibly the national title.

One of the key storylines was the long-anticipated development of a new quarterback. With the departure of Bryce Young, Alabama was left searching for a leader behind center. Both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson had the tools to lead the team, but neither emerged as the clear-cut starter at the outset of the season. Milroe, in particular, was expected to be the guy, given his physical talent and his experience from the previous year. However, his struggles with consistency—especially in the passing game—quickly became a point of concern. Simpson, though talented, was still viewed as unproven and unable to grasp the starting role in time to calm fans’ nerves.

The documentary series will begin by capturing this atmosphere of tension, optimism, and uncertainty. The high expectations will be set, and the pressure of living up to the legacy of Alabama football will be explored in intimate detail.

2. The Early Season Struggles: Inconsistent Quarterback Play

The series will highlight the early struggles at quarterback, which proved to be one of the most significant issues for Alabama throughout the 2024 campaign. As the Crimson Tide faced off against both SEC and non-conference opponents in the early weeks of the season, it became increasingly clear that the offense lacked the rhythm and consistency needed to dominate in the SEC.

Milroe, despite flashes of brilliance with his legs, was often inconsistent as a passer. His struggles against Texas and in a critical game against LSU revealed major cracks in Alabama’s offensive system. For a program that had relied on its quarterback play to elevate it to championships in the past, these difficulties were jarring. Simpson’s limited opportunities to prove himself only highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Alabama’s signal-caller position.

The documentary will take viewers behind the scenes, showcasing the internal frustration of Nick Saban and his staff as they tried to balance the development of Milroe and Simpson while also managing the expectations of a fanbase hungry for another championship. Interviews with coaches, players, and analysts will shed light on the pressure of not having a clear leader at the most important position on the field.

3. The Offensive Struggles: A Changing Identity

Alabama football has long been known for its dominant run game and physicality. However, as the 2024 season wore on, it became clear that the Tide’s offensive line, though still talented, wasn’t as imposing as it had been in years past. Injuries to key players on the offensive line and inconsistent play at quarterback meant that the run game, once a pillar of Alabama football, was no longer the juggernaut it used to be. Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Justice Haynes, though talented backs, couldn’t seem to find any room to operate behind a line that wasn’t creating the push it had been known for in previous seasons.

The team’s reliance on zone schemes and a more modern offensive approach, under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, was supposed to keep Alabama competitive in an era of high-powered offenses. Instead, the ground game struggled to establish itself, forcing Alabama to lean on its passing attack, which was inconsistent at best. The series will explore the struggles within the offensive coaching staff, including the growing pains of integrating Grubb’s system and the challenge of making significant changes to an offense that had historically been centered on brute force.

Viewers will hear from Grubb, his staff, and key players like McClellan, Williams, and Haynes as they reflect on the challenges of creating an offense that could live up to the Alabama legacy.

4. The Defensive Struggles: A Year of Underachievement

Coming into 2024, Alabama’s defense was once again loaded with talent. The Tide boasted potential first-round draft picks in the secondary and along the defensive line. However, the defense’s performance throughout the season was inconsistent, particularly in games against high-powered offenses like Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia.

Despite possessing game-changers like Dallas Turner and Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama’s defense struggled to maintain its usual dominance. Whether it was an inability to stop the run or get key stops in the passing game, Alabama’s defense didn’t look like the suffocating unit that had become a hallmark of Nick Saban’s teams.

The documentary series will examine why the defense, which had been a major strength for so many years, failed to perform at the level fans and analysts had come to expect. The series will include interviews with defensive coaches, players, and analysts who will provide insight into what went wrong and how a team built on defensive dominance ended up in a series of dogfights, unable to close out games.

5. The Midseason Crisis: An Identity Crisis for Alabama

By the middle of the season, Alabama found itself in an unfamiliar position. After a disappointing loss to Texas and another stumble against LSU, the Tide were on the outside looking in when it came to the College Football Playoff race. A loss to Tennessee further compounded their struggles, and Alabama had to regroup quickly if they wanted to salvage their season.

This was when the documentary’s emotional tone shifts, highlighting a team fighting against the tide of doubt. Coaches and players are shown grappling with their own frustration, internal team conflicts, and growing concern over the future of the program. The pressure on Nick Saban, typically cool under fire, was palpable. For the first time in years, Alabama was no longer considered the dominant force in college football.

Through interviews with Saban and his staff, viewers will gain an intimate understanding of how Alabama’s legendary head coach handled this existential crisis. The series will also explore the growing frustration among the fanbase and the increased scrutiny on Saban’s methods and philosophy.

6. The Final Stretch: A Bittersweet Finish

Despite the setbacks, Alabama did manage to regroup to finish the season with a bowl game, though their playoff hopes were dashed. The final episodes of the documentary will focus on the team’s attempt to end the season on a high note. Alabama faced off against a tough opponent in the Outback Bowl (or whatever bowl they were assigned) to salvage something positive from a disappointing year.

As the series winds down, it will reflect on the broader implications for Alabama football: How will the program adapt in the coming seasons? What does the future look like with new offensive and defensive philosophies? How will Nick Saban retool the roster to get back to championship contention? The questions left unanswered at the end of the 2024 season will hang heavy in the air, leaving fans with a sense of uncertainty but hope for the future.