100 Years Ago — The Team That Changed Southern Football Forever

As this football season continues to roll along, it’s worth looking back exactly one century to the team that shocked the nation: the 1925 Alabama Crimson Tide — the first national champions in school history, and the squad that reshaped how the entire country viewed Southern football.

Under head coach Wallace Wade, Alabama went a perfect 10–0, shutting out eight opponents and allowing just 26 total points all season — a level of dominance that would echo through generations. That fall also marked a turning point in the history of Southern football: the widespread adoption of the forward pass, which began gaining traction across the region.

Alabama embraced the new trend more boldly than most. With a more modern, balanced offense, the Tide broke away from the old “three yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy and introduced a faster, more dynamic style of play.

One of the stars of this emerging attack was Johnny Mack Brown, the electrifying halfback who later became a Hollywood actor. His speed, agility, and receiving ability helped push Alabama ahead of its Southern Conference rivals and positioned the Tide as a rising power.

Their regular-season dominance earned Alabama something unprecedented: an invitation to the 1926 Rose Bowl, the first ever extended to a Southern team.

And what happened in Pasadena changed everything.

Facing heavily favored Washington, the Crimson Tide stormed back from a halftime deficit to win 20–19, stunning the West Coast fans and national media. Many historians call it “the game that changed the South.” It proved that teams from Alabama — and from the Southern United States — could compete with and defeat the established powers of the sport.

The 1925 squad didn’t just win games.
They built a legacy.
They set a standard.
They sparked one of the greatest dynasties in college football history.

And today, as we make our way through the 2025 season, it’s worth remembering that everything Alabama football has become — the pride, the expectations, the national relevance — can be traced back to the team that stepped onto the national stage for the first time 100 years ago and never looked back.

Roll Tide — yesterday, today, and always.

Looking Ahead: Why 1925 Still Matters Today

This year marks the official 100th anniversary of Alabama’s first national championship — and throughout the season, their have been tributes to the 1925 squad across the program, from gameday graphics and celebrations.

Why does this team still matter?

• Because it proved that the South could compete.

• Because it laid the foundation for what Alabama football would become.

• Because every championship since — from Bryant to Stallings to Saban — traces its roots back to Wallace Wade and his fearless 1925 team.

The dynasty had to start somewhere.
It started right here.

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