The 6 QBs Who Might Give Alabama Nightmares in 2025
Let’s be real: when Bama takes an L, it’s usually because some quarterback decided to play the game of his life. Last year, it was Diego Pavia turning into Houdini in Nashville. And looking at the 2025 schedule? Let’s just say Defensive Coordinator Kane Wommack might want to invest in some melatonin, because there are some serious QB threats ahead.
Here are six quarterbacks who could cause some chaos for the Tide this season:
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1. Thomas Castellanos (Florida State)
Florida State is coming off a weird year—bad QB play, lots of confusion, and just general chaos. But now they’ve brought in Castellanos from Boston College, and this guy can move. His legs might be a bigger problem than his arm, and if there’s one thing that’s tripped up Bama before, it’s mobile quarterbacks. With a rowdy Tallahassee crowd in Week 1, this could be a much closer game than people expect—especially if Castellanos starts cooking.
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2. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)
Ah yes, the man who made every Alabama fan yell at their TV last October. Pavia lit up the Tide last year and kept their defense on the field for what felt like five hours. Revenge will definitely be on Bama’s mind this time around, but don’t sleep on Pavia—he’s gritty, he’s fearless, and he’s probably been watching that game on repeat all offseason.
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3. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
Sellers almost pulled off the upset in Tuscaloosa last year and then went on a heater to end the season. He can run, he can pass, and he’s only getting better. Columbia is no joke when that place is rocking, and if Sellers keeps improving, this could be another trap game for Alabama—especially if he pulls out the dual-threat chaos we’ve seen before.
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4. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
Nuss is the real deal. Some are already penciling him in as a first-round NFL pick, and LSU fans are hyped. Bama made him look human last year, but you better believe he’s got this year’s matchup circled in red. He’s got the weapons, he’s got the experience, and if he’s on fire, this could be an all-out SEC showdown with playoff implications.
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5. John Mateer (Oklahoma)
Last year, Oklahoma’s SEC debut was… a mess. But now they’ve got John Mateer, who was a straight-up stat machine at Washington State—3,100 passing yards and almost 900 rushing? That’s wild. He’s stepping into a much better setup in Norman, and if everything clicks, this dude could lead a serious Sooner bounce-back. Alabama gets them at home this time, but with Mateer running the show, it’s far from a gimme.
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6. Jackson Arnold (Auburn)
Arnold had a rough go at Oklahoma, but when he ran all over Alabama for 130+ yards last season? Yeah, we noticed. Now he’s down on the Plains, surrounded by what might be the best WR group in the SEC. If he figures things out in Hugh Freeze’s system, this year’s Iron Bowl could be electric. And if it all goes south? Well… that might be the last Freeze warning in Auburn.
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So yeah, Alabama’s not exactly walking into cupcake city this fall. With this lineup of dual-threat demons and revenge-hungry gunslingers, it’s going to be a wild ride for Wommack and crew. Buckle up.
