Who Are the Five Best Players Alabama will Face in 2025?

Every year, the SEC is loaded with talent. From top-five picks in the NFL draft to the highest-ranked freshmen in college football, no week is easy when playing in the SEC.

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For Alabama, the Tide has a tough schedule, facing teams like LSU, Tennessee, and Auburn every season. In 2025, Alabama will travel to Athens, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina, for likely night games with two teams that could compete for spots in the College Football Playoff.

Alabama faced eight first-round draft picks from the 2025 NFL draft during the 2024 season, and 16 of the 32 first-round picks in the 2025 draft over the last two seasons. The Crimson Tide is a battle-tested squad.

The 2025 season won't be any different, with Alabama slated to face five potential first-round picks for the 2026 NFL draft in the regular season. Should Alabama make the SEC championship or the College Football Playoffs, it could face up to 23 potential first-round picks, with possible matchups against Ohio State, Clemson, or Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs and a potential matchup with Texas in the SEC Championship.

But let's look at the regular season only. Who are the five best players Alabama will face in 2025?

Jermod McCoy, Cornerback - Tennessee Volunteers

McCoy is a familiar name to the Tennessee faithful, with game experience against Alabama's top receiving threats this season. McCoy is going into his junior year, but finished his sophomore season with 44 tackles, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions, including one on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Knoxville.

McCoy ended his day against Alabama with eight tackles, one pass breakup, and one interception. He only allowed two catches for 28 yards against the Crimson Tide. McCoy will once again be matched up with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard when Tennessee comes to Tuscaloosa on October 18.

Keldric Faulk, Defensive Lineman - Auburn Tigers

Keldric Faulk is entering his junior season and is the most likely candidate to end Auburn's first-round draft drought. In 2024, he finished the season with 45 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup. He had a strong performance despite a loss to Alabama, finishing the Iron Bowl with six tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Auburn has a history of strong defensive line play, and Faulk looks to be the next star from the Plains along the front four defensively.

Garrett Nussmeier, Quarterback - LSU Tigers

Nussmeier is the only returning SEC quarterback who threw for 4,000 yards last season. His weapons won't be as bountiful as they were last season, losing Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. along the offensive line and Kyren Lacy, Mason Taylor, and CJ Daniels as receiving weapons. However, Nussmeier is the most veteran returning starter, so he will have plenty of wisdom and experience to share with the new playmakers at LSU. He passed for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns as the Tigers' leader last season.

He didn't have his best performance against Alabama last season, passing for 232 yards and one touchdown, but throwing two interceptions and being sacked twice. Late in the game, he was able to get points on the board, however.

LaNorris Sellers, Quarterback - South Carolina

The 6-foot-3, 242-pound quarterback gave Alabama fits in Bryant-Denny Stadium in the 2024 season and was an interception away from potentially toppling the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. He finished the game with 238 passing yards and two touchdowns, but threw the game-losing interception to go along with four sacks taken in the game. On the ground, he only had 19 rushing yards.

But make no mistake, Sellers is as dynamic and electric as they come. He finished 2024 with 2,534 passing yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 674 yards and seven touchdowns as the Gamecocks finished the season 9-4. His threat to run makes defenses hesitant and second-guess decisions, which can open up lanes in the passing game. After the loss to Alabama, Sellers threw for 1,481 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 436 yards and four touchdowns. South Carolina did not lose again until the bowl game after falling to the Crimson Tide.

Dyland Stewart, EDGE - South Carolina

Stewart took the college football world by storm as a true freshman and was named a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. As a true freshman, he finished the season with 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass breakup. His speed and burst on the edge are a headache for even the best offensive tackles in the SEC, as evident by his four-tackle and one-sack performance against Ole Miss. Alabama will have its hands full during the Tide's matchup with South Carolina, with Kadyn Proctor likely matching up against one of the premier edge rushers in the SEC.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.