Alabama will honor three championship teams during 2025 season

The University of Alabama has never shied away from celebrating its championship pedigree. Crimson Tide football, the pride of Tuscaloosa and one of the most storied programs in college sports history, will embrace that legacy in a big way this fall. The 2025 season will feature a series of special events as Alabama plans to honor three of its most iconic national championship teams: the 1965, 1975, and 2015 squads. Each team holds a distinct place in Crimson Tide lore, and the university’s decision to spotlight their achievements reflects the deep reverence Alabama has for its football tradition and the men who built it.

These three anniversaries—60 years for the 1965 team, 50 years for the 1975 team, and 10 years for the 2015 team—represent more than just round numbers. They signify turning points, eras of dominance, and unforgettable moments that shaped Alabama into a national powerhouse. Each championship was earned under different circumstances, led by different coaches, and defined by different styles of play. But all share one thing in common: they exemplified the Crimson Tide’s resilience, execution, and championship DNA.

The 1965 Alabama Crimson Tide won the school’s sixth national title, but perhaps no championship in Tide history came under more unusual and dramatic circumstances. Coached by the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, the 1965 team wasn’t even ranked No. 1 going into their bowl game. In fact, their season had started with a crushing upset loss to Georgia in the season opener. For a time, it looked like the Tide would spend the year rebuilding after the disappointment of being overlooked in 1964, when they went undefeated but lost the national title to Notre Dame and Arkansas.

But behind the leadership of quarterback Steve Sloan and a determined defensive unit, Alabama rebounded. They went 8-1-1 during the regular season and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl to face Nebraska. While most thought Alabama’s national title hopes were long gone, upsets in other bowl games—including losses by No. 1 Michigan State and No. 2 Arkansas—reopened the door.

On January 1, 1966, Alabama dismantled Nebraska 39–28 behind Sloan’s 296 passing yards and three touchdowns. When the final AP Poll was released, Alabama had vaulted to No. 1, earning the national title in a stunning reversal of fortune. The 1965 team is remembered for its grit, adaptability, and its role in reinvigorating Bear Bryant’s championship legacy after a brief lull.

The university will honor the team during Alabama’s home game against South Carolina on September 20. Survivors from the roster and their families will be recognized on the field, and a special tribute video will be played at halftime. Commemorative memorabilia and limited-edition throwback jerseys will be available for fans attending the game.

While the 1975 Alabama team is not listed as a consensus national champion in most records—Oklahoma was the AP No. 1—it does have a claim to the national title according to several lesser-recognized selectors. More importantly, the 1975 team set the stage for Alabama’s late-70s dominance and marked the beginning of a renewed sense of purpose under Bear Bryant.

Following years of frustration in bowl games during the early 1970s, Alabama entered the 1975 season determined to reclaim national prominence. Led by quarterback Richard Todd, a powerful Wishbone offense, and a physical defense anchored by standout linebacker Woodrow Lowe, Alabama rolled to an 11–1 record. Their only loss came in a narrow 20–7 setback to Missouri in the opener. From there, they won 11 straight games, including an emphatic 13–6 victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.

While Alabama finished No. 3 in the final AP Poll, the 1975 season was the foundation for back-to-back consensus national titles in 1978 and 1979. The team is widely remembered for restoring the program’s toughness and reestablishing Alabama as a year-in, year-out national title contender.

The university will honor the 1975 team during Alabama’s October 18 game against Kentucky. Many of the players from that team—now in their late 60s or early 70s—are expected to attend, including Todd and several members of the defensive front. A ceremonial coin toss, pregame recognition, and sideline interviews will highlight the celebration. The week leading up to the game will also include panel discussions and a documentary screening on the Bryant era.

If the 1965 and 1975 teams symbolize perseverance and the Bear Bryant era, the 2015 Alabama team represents the full flowering of Nick Saban’s modern dynasty. After the shocking College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State in the 2014 Sugar Bowl, questions swirled about whether Saban’s empire was beginning to decline. The 2015 season answered them emphatically.

Despite an early-season loss to Ole Miss—one of the few teams to beat Saban multiple times during his Alabama tenure—the Tide regrouped behind a punishing defense, a strong offensive line, and the emergence of Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry. Henry rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season, including iconic performances against Auburn, Florida, and LSU.

Quarterback Jake Coker, after beginning his career at Florida State, settled into his role as a steady leader, while Alabama’s defense, led by Jonathan Allen, Reggie Ragland, and A’Shawn Robinson, terrorized opponents. Alabama defeated Clemson 45–40 in a thrilling national championship game in Glendale, Arizona, to cap off a 14–1 season and secure Saban’s fourth national title at Alabama.

The 2015 team will be honored during the November 15 game against LSU—a fitting choice, considering Henry’s legendary 210-yard outing against the Tigers that season helped launch his Heisman campaign. Dozens of players from the 2015 team are expected to be on hand, including Henry, Coker, and several current NFL players who remain connected to the university. Special halftime festivities, commemorative helmets, and fan giveaways will make it one of the most anticipated game days of the season.

Alabama’s decision to honor these three teams in 2025 is more than just an exercise in nostalgia. It comes at a pivotal time in the program’s history, as the Crimson Tide begin a new era under head coach Kalen DeBoer. With Nick Saban now retired, DeBoer faces the monumental task of carrying on a legacy defined by decades of excellence. Honoring past champions helps tie the past to the present, reminding current players and fans of the standards that have always defined Alabama football.

For DeBoer, these celebrations also offer an opportunity to immerse himself in the culture of Alabama and to embrace the weight of the expectations that come with coaching in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer has spoken openly about his admiration for Alabama’s history and his desire to respect the past while building the future. By integrating these tributes into the 2025 season, he’s reinforcing the idea that this is not a rebuilding job, but a continuation of greatness.

The university also hopes these events will reconnect alumni and fans with the program. Homecoming-style weekends, autograph sessions, and expanded tailgate zones are all part of the celebration plan, designed to encourage multiple generations of Alabama supporters to come together. For younger fans who may have never seen Steve Sloan throw a pass or Richard Todd lead a drive, these events offer a tangible connection to the eras that laid the foundation for their modern fandom.

What ties the 1965, 1975, and 2015 teams together isn’t just the championships. It’s how they reflect Alabama’s enduring identity. The 1965 team was gritty, opportunistic, and led by an all-time great coach rebounding from disappointment. The 1975 team was powerful, disciplined, and laying the foundation for dominance. The 2015 team was modern, explosive, and bent on proving critics wrong.

Each faced adversity. Each overcame it. Each proved that the Crimson Tide doesn’t just chase titles—they expect them. That mindset, that drive, that relentless pursuit of excellence—it has defined Alabama football through every era.

In a sport where programs rise and fall with dizzying speed, Alabama’s ability to maintain such high standards across multiple generations is nothing short of remarkable. It speaks to the alignment between the university, its coaches, its players, and its fans. And it makes the upcoming 2025 season about more than just the wins and losses.

It’s about the legacy.

As the Crimson Tide prepare for another campaign, the echoes of past triumphs will be present in Bryant-Denny Stadium. They’ll be there when families of 1965 players stand on the field, when a 1975 captain shakes hands with today’s team, and when Derrick Henry walks out of the tunnel once more to a thunderous ovation.

Three championship teams. Three anniversaries. One Crimson Tide family.

That’s Alabama football.