Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama tenure has become a favorite target for doubt, but the conversation around him is more complicated than the latest bad memory. The easy criticism is that his track record has slipped because he may not be cut out for the SEC.
Even some Alabama fans have bought into that idea. But there’s another side to the story, and it starts with what DeBoer has already done against elite competition.
Across his two Washington seasons and two Alabama seasons, DeBoer is 7-1 against Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian, and Kirby Smart. That number stands out.
Still, for a lot of fans, the freshest images matter more than the full body of work, and the most recent ones were ugly. Alabama was outclassed by Georgia in December and by Indiana in January, and those performances earned DeBoer a failing grade.
Before Alabama, though, DeBoer’s Washington run was all about smashing expectations. Washington was 4-8 in 2021, lost the Apple Cup to Washington State 40-13, and CBS Sports had Wazzu as the top team in the state heading into the 2022 preseason. DeBoer walked into a program with an 8.5-win over-under and turned it into a 10-2 regular season, then an 11-2 finish after a bowl win over Texas.
The next year was even stronger. Washington’s preseason over-under was 9.5 wins, and DeBoer’s team went 12-0 in the regular season before finishing 14-1 after a loss to Michigan in the National Championship Game. In those two seasons, he was the definition of a coach exceeding expectations.
Alabama is a different kind of job, though. DeBoer had room to climb when he left Fresno State for Washington, but stepping in after Nick Saban meant the only direction to go was down. That’s the reality of replacing a legend in Tuscaloosa, and it would have been true for any coach Greg Byrne hired.
At Alabama, the bar is brutal. It is almost impossible to exceed expectations there, because even Nick Saban did not win a national championship every season, and that has long been the standard Alabama fans hold in their heads. Right now, they want to believe 2026 can bring a title run, but expecting the championship itself is too big a leap.
The hot seat talk around DeBoer is widespread, but it does not match the situation. He is not on one.
Byrne’s plan is for DeBoer to be in Tuscaloosa for the 2027 season and beyond. Even so, 2026 is a huge year for him.
His third Alabama roster should have the pieces needed for his system to work, and there should be enough reason for optimism. Still, there will be no excuse if DeBoer does not produce.
In Other News...
Alabama Still Has Several Crucial Jobs To Settle Before Fall Camp Ends
With fall camp nearing and Alabamas season opener against East Carolina on Sept. 5 looming, the Crimson Tide still have some real sorting to do before the depth chart settles in. A handful of spots are drawing the most attention, from the No. 3 receiver job to the interior defensive line, linebacker and the right side of the offensive front, and each of those battles carries a different kind of weight for a team trying to sharpen its rotation before the games count.
The receiver race has already been complicated by an injury, which has opened the door for a few younger options to push for a bigger role. Up front and in the second level, Alabama is also working through decisions that will shape both its base defense and its protection plan, with transfers and returning players all trying to carve out meaningful snaps. By the time camp ends, the Tide should have a much clearer picture in several areas, but theres still enough competition left to make these final practices worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn And Alabama Just Sent A Stark Message About College Football
College sports politics usually do not bring Alabama and Auburn to the same side of the table, but the two schools did exactly that this week in a joint statement aimed at Washington. Signed by the Board of Trustees presidents and university presidents at both institutions, the message urged U.S. politicians to reject the Protect College Sports Act in its current form, a notable alignment from two rivals with plenty of history between them.
The concern, according to the statement, is not just that the bill falls short of solving the biggest problems in college athletics, but that it could push more of those questions into the courts and invite even more litigation. For a sport already trying to sort out its future, that kind of warning from two of the most influential names in the SEC carries weight, especially as the debate over how college sports should be governed continues to intensify. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Freshmen Suddenly Look Poised For Bigger Roles Than Expected
Alabamas 2026 roster is shaping up to be one of the youngest in recent memory, especially on offense, and that means the freshman class is not just depth for the future. Running back EJ Crowell and wide receiver Cederian Morgan are already viewed as players who could matter right away, with the Tide leaning on young talent as it tries to rebuild around a group heavy on freshmen and sophomores.
Crowells path is tied to a rushing attack that needs a reset, and his arrival gives Alabama a chance to inject more juice into the backfield early. Morgan, meanwhile, is in the mix for a major role at receiver, where injuries elsewhere have opened the door for younger players to push for snaps sooner than expected, making fall camp one of the more important stretches for the Tides new-look offense. [Read more 🡒]