Alabama football’s Kalen DeBoer shared when the Crimson Tide will begin preseason camp for the 2025 season. DeBoer, speaking to reporters at SEC media days in Atlanta, said UA will begin on July 30.

“So excited about two weeks from today,” DeBoer said Wednesday. “Think we’ll be on the football field practicing, for Practice 1.”

The Crimson Tide opens the 2025 season on Aug. 30. DeBoer’s second year will begin with a trip to Tallahassee, to face Florida State.

FSU, led by Mike Norvell, reportedly a candidate for the job when DeBoer got it before the 2024 season, disappointed last year. Following an ACC championship in 2023, the Seminoles won just two games, only one against an FBS opponent.

However, Alabama lost winnable games last season, most notably against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. DeBoer stressed the importance of starting well on Wednesday.

“They’re going to have something to prove as well,” DeBoer said. “So that’s going to be a great environment to get tested early on. And so, we don’t need to look at anything beyond that, as far as our preparation of what might lie, because none of it matters unless we take care of business and do what we’re doing, being our best in that Week 1 game against Florida State.

“But being on the road and playing better on the road is certainly going to be a point.”

The Crimson Tide’s biggest question entering camp is who will play quarterback for the game. Ty Simpson leads the three-way battle after spring football, something DeBoer reiterated on Wednesday.

The redshirt junior, who backed up Jalen Milroe for the past two seasons is battling with fellow returnee Austin Mack, along with five-star freshman Keelon Russell. DeBoer discussed how the QB competition could help the team, with regards to building experience.

“I think going through a quarterback competition, that’s pressure alone,” DeBoer said. “You know those guys are going through every throw.”