Alabama Faces Transfer Portal Reality Check Under Kalen DeBoer
The transfer portal has become college football’s great equalizer-or disruptor, depending on your perspective-and right now, Alabama is feeling the weight of that shift. Under head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide are navigating a new landscape, and the early returns from this offseason suggest that the program’s grip on dominance may be loosening.
According to On3’s latest transfer portal rankings, Alabama sits at No. 46 nationally. Within the SEC, they rank 13th out of 16 teams.
That’s not a typo. The Crimson Tide, long a fixture at the top of college football’s hierarchy, are suddenly staring up at most of their conference rivals.
Former NFL offensive lineman Cody Campbell recently weighed in on the situation, pointing to the changing dynamics of NIL and booster support. “Schools like Alabama and Auburn are struggling,” Campbell said during an appearance on Will Cain Country.
“They don’t have the booster support. Nothing against Alabama-I have a ton of respect for that program.
But they can’t raise the money like the University of Texas can.”
That’s a sobering assessment, especially for a program that once set the gold standard for recruiting and roster building. And while DeBoer is no stranger to success-he’s gone 20-8 in his first two seasons-he’s now tasked with navigating a college football world that looks very different from the one Nick Saban ruled for over a decade.
Last season was a rollercoaster for Alabama. A 9-4 finish, capped off by a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl, had some fans questioning whether DeBoer was the right man for the job. And when the Tide opened the 2025 campaign with a loss to Florida State, the pressure dialed up even further.
But to DeBoer’s credit, Alabama responded. The Tide rattled off eight straight wins, four of which came against ranked SEC opponents.
That kind of resilience speaks to the culture he’s trying to build. Still, the season ended with a thud-first a blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, then a tough defeat at the hands of Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
Those late-season losses stung, but the bigger concern may be what’s happening off the field. Alabama brought in 17 players via the portal this winter but lost 23.
Only one of those incoming players was rated as a four-star prospect. On3 gave the Tide a portal index score of minus-5.
For context, Georgia-yes, Georgia-was one of just three SEC teams that finished below Alabama in the portal rankings.
That’s not just a blip. That’s a trend. And it’s one DeBoer will have to address quickly.
The challenge now is clear: Alabama can’t rely solely on its legacy or past success to attract top-tier talent. In the NIL era, funding and booster support matter more than ever. DeBoer is a sharp football mind and a proven leader, but he’s operating in a system that’s evolving fast-and not necessarily in his favor.
Nick Saban saw this storm coming. His retirement wasn’t just about age or legacy; it was also about timing. The game is changing, and the programs that adapt quickest will be the ones still standing at the top.
For Alabama, the blueprint for success is being rewritten. And Kalen DeBoer is the one holding the pen.