Alabama Crimson Tide vs UL Monroe Warhawks Preview
The UIL Monroe Warhawks stunned the college football world with a 21–14 upset over Alabama in 2007—then led by first-year head coach Nick Saban. That historic win remains among the most iconic in Warhawks lore.
Now, it’s 2025, and ULM has another shot—traveling to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in a night game reminiscent of the past upset.
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ULM’s Opening Statement: Strong and Silent
The Warhawks opened their season with a dominant 29–0 shutout victory against Saint Francis (PA), marking ULM’s first shutout since 2015.
Braylon McReynolds powered the ground game with 113 yards and a rushing touchdown, while the defense made its presence felt—two sacks and a blocked extra point — creating momentum ahead of Saturday’s matchup.
UL Monroe Week 1 Highlights | Statistics |
---|---|
Rushing Yards (McReynolds) | 113 yards |
Passing Yards (Armenta) | 95 yards |
Defensive Impact | 2 sacks, 1 block |
Final Score | 29–0 |
ULM enters with confidence, ready to embrace the underdog role once again.
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Alabama’s Urgent Return to Form
Alabama enters this game under pressure after a stinging opener, and coach Kalen DeBoer looks to reignite leadership and cohesiveness.
Receiver Germie Bernard was a bright spot, racking up 146 receiving yards on eight catches. However, the team’s chemistry appeared off. Bernard emphasized mutual accountability.
Meanwhile, quarterback Ty Simpson looked solid with 254 passing yards and two touchdowns—but the team’s mental reset is just as critical.
Alabama Offensive Snapshot Week 1 | Output |
---|---|
Passing Yards (Simpson) | 254 Yds |
Leading Receiver (Bernard) | 146 Yds |
Offensive Tempo & Execution | Inconsistent |
DeBoer stressed, “play with an edge… have fun, get it done,” making Saturday a test more mental than physical.
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Clash of Histories, Styles & Momentum
ULM’s underdog past fuels this matchup, but their recent performance and Alabama’s urgency add a fresh layer. Will history repeat? Or will the Crimson Tide restore order?
Let’s break down key metrics:
Matchup Category | UL Monroe | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Week 1 Total yards | 434 (offensive) | 378 (offensive) |
Quarterback Performance | 12/23, 95 yds, 1 TD | 23/43, 254 yds, 2 TDs |
Underdog Theme | 2007 upset legacy | Rebounding from loss |
Defensive Readiness | First shutout since 2015 | TBD after opener |
Sunday may not be a rerun of 2007, but the storyline will have echoes. ULM rolls in battle-tested; Bama looks to reestablish. It’s an emotional chess match, not just physical.
Picks & Final Prediction
Past surprises are rare, and Saturday is unlikely another upset—yet ULM is playing with belief and rhythm.
Top Picks
- Alabama -28
- Underside lean: Under 55.5 Total Points
- Arbitrage prop: McReynolds Over 70.5 Rushing Yards
Alabama’s size, strategy, and bounceback drive should tilt the advantage—but ULM’s grit means nothing will come easy.