U.S. President Donald Trump flew to Tuscaloosa on 1 May to deliver the University of Alabama’s 2025 commencement address, the first time a sitting president has spoken at the school’s graduation. The university combined nine separate ceremonies into a single event at the 15,000-seat Coleman Coliseum, where former Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban introduced the president. Opening with “Roll Tide,” Trump praised the class of 2025 as the inaugural cohort of what he called America’s “Golden Age,” urging graduates “to be outsiders” and to apply the university’s culture of winning to national renewal. He singled out the nearly 130 active-duty service members, veterans and ROTC cadets among the graduates and declared, “The next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide.” The visit capped a week-long celebration of Trump’s first 100 days in his second term and featured campaign-style rhetoric about economic growth and government reform. While thousands of students and guests cheered inside the arena, local media reported that hundreds of protesters rallied off campus, reflecting the polarised reception that continues to accompany the president’s public appearances.

Nearly 250 new members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for 2025. Sixteen Harvard University faculty members and six professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)—Lotte Bailyn, Gareth McKinley, Nasser Rabbat, Anne Whiston Spirn, Susan Silbey, and Catherine Wolfram—were among those elected. Six University of California, Berkeley faculty members—Ian Agol, Yang Dan, Leslie Kurke, Donald Rio, Dawn Song, and Philip Stark—were also named as new members. The new inductees include experts in mathematics, statistics, computer science, molecular biology, neurobiology, and comparative literature. Other new members announced include CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, activist Gloria Steinem, and chef José Andrés. Induction ceremonies for the new members will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October 2025. Separately, the University of Alabama will hold a special commencement event at 6:30 p.m. on May 1, 2025, in Coleman Coliseum. The event will feature an address by President Donald Trump, with comments from Nick Saban, former coach of the Crimson Tide football team, and University President Stuart R. Bell. Enhanced security measures will be in place for attendees.

President Donald Trump will deliver commencement addresses at both the University of Alabama and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This marks the first time a sitting president will speak at the University of Alabama's graduation ceremony. Trump previously gave the commencement address at West Point in 2020 and is set to return there for the upcoming event. He announced his plans for these speeches through his Truth Social account.

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit alleging Alabama officials illegally harvested organs from inmates can proceed. The case involves accusations that the Alabama Department of Corrections permitted university doctors to study the organs of deceased incarcerated individuals without obtaining consent from their next of kin. This ruling allows the plaintiffs to move forward with their claims against the state officials involved in the alleged practices. Concurrently, in a separate case, the Utah District Court has ruled against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding a lawsuit over the payment of sex abuse settlements.

The University of Alabama's board of trustees has approved several coaching contracts, including a two-year deal for new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, which will pay him $1 million annually. This contract is part of a broader approval for 17 coaches and staff members. Alabama's athletic director, Greg Byrne, noted that Grubb's previous contract with the Seattle Seahawks contributed to the financial terms of his new deal. With Grubb's addition, five assistant coaches on Alabama's football staff will earn $1 million or more in 2025. The other high-earning assistants include Kane Wommack at $1.7 million, Nick Sheridan at $1.45 million, Freddie Roach at $1.2 million, and JaMarcus Shephard at $1.1 million. Additionally, the Arkansas football program has reached a $10 million budget for its roster and is expected to continue investing aggressively in its football operations.

Auburn University has announced changes to its traditional A-Day spring football game for 2025, opting instead for an open practice format with fan events. Unlike previous years where a score was kept, this year's A-Day will resemble a typical practice session. The decision aligns with a broader trend among college football programs moving away from traditional spring games. Rhett Lashlee, head coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU), commented on the trend, stating that the internal benefits of a spring game are minimal and that the potential downsides outweigh the upsides. In contrast, the University of Alabama will maintain its A-Day, scheduled for April 12, featuring an hour-and-a-half practice beginning at noon CT, followed by an exclusive autograph session for members of the Yea Alabama organization.

In the opening round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) faced a challenging match against the University of Alabama. The 12-seed Phoenix were unable to overcome the 5-seed Crimson Tide, resulting in an 81-67 defeat in College Park, Maryland. Alabama's Aaliyah Nye led the game with 23 points, including three crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping to secure the victory and end Green Bay's 22-game winning streak. Despite a strong effort from UWGB players Schiltz, McNeal, and Genke, who combined for 35 points, the team could not keep pace with Alabama's scoring, ultimately falling in the first round of the tournament.

Justin Lebron, a shortstop for the University of Alabama's baseball team, is making headlines with a strong performance in the 2025 season. Currently, he has a batting average of .383 and has hit eight home runs in just 12 games, contributing to Alabama's undefeated record of 12-0. His impressive start has also led him to lead the nation with 32 RBIs after 13 games played. Lebron, a former standout at AMMavsBaseball, has emerged as a top prospect, ranking first in Baseball America's 2026 College Draft Prospects Ranking. His performance has drawn significant attention, showcasing his potential as a future star in college baseball.

The upcoming college basketball matchup between the University of Alabama and the University of Tennessee is generating significant attention, particularly as both teams are currently ranked in the top six of the Associated Press poll. Alabama, known for its offensive prowess, leads the nation in scoring with an average of 91.5 points per game and rebounding at 43.7 rebounds per game. The team also ranks highly in free throw attempts and three-point shooting. Conversely, Tennessee boasts a strong defensive record, ranking second in field goal percentage defense at 37.3% and fourth in scoring defense, allowing only 60.8 points per game. The game marks the first time both teams meet while ranked in the top six, with Alabama's coach Nate Oats holding a school record of 27 wins against top 25 teams. The matchup is set to take place at 4 PM EST and will be broadcast on ESPN.

The University of Alabama has announced that its 2025 A-Day spring football game will take place at noon CT on Saturday, April 12. The event is free for all fans wishing to attend in person. However, there will be no live broadcast of the game, as confirmed by multiple sources, including the university's official communications. This decision continues the tradition of A-Day, which serves as a showcase for the football team ahead of the upcoming season.

Mark Sears of the University of Alabama men's basketball team has been named the Associated Press national player of the week and SEC Co-Player of the Week for Week 16 of the season. Sears, a senior guard, achieved back-to-back 30-point games against ranked opponents, showcasing his scoring prowess with 35 points against No. 14 Missouri and 30 points against No. 17 Kentucky. His performance has helped Alabama maintain a strong position in the SEC standings, tied with Florida two games behind top-ranked Auburn. In addition to his scoring, Sears has been a key playmaker for the Crimson Tide, averaging 4.8 assists per game. His contributions have been vital as Alabama, the nation's highest-scoring team, prepares for crucial games against No. 24 Mississippi State, No. 5 Tennessee, and No. 3 Florida, before facing Auburn on March 8. Alabama's recent performance included a dominant 111-73 victory over Mississippi State, where Sears recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists, along with a 5-12 performance from beyond the arc. During the game against Mississippi State, Alabama scored 53 points in the first half while holding their opponents to just 27 points. The 111 points scored by Alabama is the most ever against an AP-ranked opponent and the fourth-most in an SEC game all-time. Coach Nate Oats praised Sears' distribution skills, noting the team's 9-0 record when Sears has at least seven assists in a game. Despite the offensive success, Oats expressed concerns about the team's defensive performance in the second half, where Sears had a +24 plus-minus rating.

Nick Sheridan will continue his role as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Alabama in 2025, according to multiple sources. This decision is seen as advantageous for returning quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Austin Mack, as well as for the recruitment of five-star freshman Keelon Russell. Sheridan's ongoing presence in the quarterback room is expected to support the development of Alabama's offensive strategies alongside fellow coaches Ryan Grubb and Kalen DeBoer.