Alabama football LB Qua Russaw is Crimson Tide’s 2025 CFP X-factor

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer is hoping for a better Year 2 than his debut season in Tuscaloosa.

Not that Alabama couldn’t have done far worse than a 9-3 regular season that included a thrilling win over Georgia, a blowout victory at LSU, and a fifth straight Iron Bowl win over Auburn. Those and six other victories aren’t bad for any new coach to have on his résumé.

But it’s still Alabama, where high expectations will always be part of the job for any coach (historically, some have understood this better than others). For DeBoer to improve on last year’s mark, a trip to the 12-team College Football Playoff is a must.

On Thursday, CBS Sports looked at the biggest X-factors for 12 prime College Football Playoff hopefuls. In Alabama’s case, analyst Carter Bahns highlighted linebacker Qua Russaw as the player he views as poised to “make or break” the Tide’s playoff hopes in 2025.

Per Bahns:

“The Alabama defense lost some of its identity last season as the pass rushing scheme lacked explosiveness and did not feature the superstar-caliber edge rushers that were cornerstones of the roster under Nick Saban. Someone needs to take a step forward in 2025 for the Crimson Tide to be more than just a mid-tier defensive front. Enter Qua Russaw, who cut his teeth as a redshirt freshman and should be the top option at the “wolf” position in Year 3. He managed just one sack a year ago, and Alabama needs more from the former No. 64 overall recruit.”

Russaw committed to Nick Saban as a five-star player from Montgomery’s Carver High School in 2022. As a redshirt freshman a season ago, he played in 13 games and made six starts while totaling 36 tackles (2.5 for loss) to go with two interceptions.

DeBoer has a talented roster heading into 2025, and it’s apparent everywhere you look. PFF (Pro Football Focus) ranked the Tide’s offensive line as the best in the nation, while the secondary was ranked No. 2 behind Texas. The wide receivers room, led by sophomore Ryan Williams and senior Germie Bernard, was recently ranked by CBS Sports as the third-best unit.

That talent will have to carry Alabama back to the College Football Playoff for the season to be considered a success.

Alabama opens the 2025 season against Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ABC.

Alabama football schedule 2025

All times Central.

Aug. 30: at Florida State, 2:30 p.m., ABCSept. 6: vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 6:45 p.m., SEC NetworkSept. 13: vs. Wisconsin, 11 a.m., ABC or ESPNSept. 27: at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., ABCOct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt, TBAOct. 11: at Missouri, 11 a.m., ABC or ESPNOct. 18: vs. Tennessee, TBAOct. 25: at South Carolina, TBANov. 8: vs. LSU, prime timeNov. 15: vs. Oklahoma, TBANov. 22 vs. Eastern Illinois, 1 p.m., ESPN+Nov. 29: at Auburn, TBA

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