The Alabama Crimson Tide are entering a new chapter under head coach Kalen DeBoer - and it’s one that’s drawing far less attention than we’re used to seeing in Tuscaloosa. With Georgia chasing a third straight SEC title, and Texas and LSU reloading through the transfer portal with the kind of firepower that only deep pockets can buy, Alabama finds itself in an unfamiliar position: under the radar.
But don’t mistake quiet for comfortable. This upcoming season could be pivotal for DeBoer, now entering his third year at the helm.
For the first time, he’ll have a quarterback of his own choosing under center. Ty Simpson, the last of the Saban-era signal callers, is NFL-bound, leaving the door open for either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell to take the reins.
That quarterback battle will shape the identity of Alabama’s offense in 2026 - and it won’t be the only storyline to watch.
Defensively, the Tide are undergoing a major reset. The front seven that helped push Alabama into the College Football Playoff is being retooled, with key contributors like Tim Keenan and Deontae Lawson heading to the next level. That’s a lot of leadership and production to replace, and how quickly the new core gels could make or break Alabama’s season.
For DeBoer, the stakes are high. The 2025 campaign ended with a thud - a lopsided loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, followed by a humbling 38-3 defeat at the hands of Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
That’s not just a bad look - it’s a gut punch for a program that used to treat the Rose Bowl like a second home. Before 2024, Alabama was 5-1-1 in Pasadena.
Since then, they’ve dropped two straight, both to eventual national champions.
And while losing to elite teams isn’t necessarily a sin, the manner of those losses - particularly the blowout against Indiana - has raised serious questions about the direction of the program. Alabama used to be the team that ran the table. Now, they’re the ones getting run over by the teams that do.
That’s where DeBoer’s challenge comes into sharp focus. It’s not just about maintaining a playoff-caliber program.
It’s about restoring the fear factor, the edge, the expectation that Alabama doesn’t just compete - it dominates. And if that doesn’t happen soon, the pressure will only intensify.
There’s also the matter of donor confidence. Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell recently made headlines suggesting that the right coach can unlock serious financial backing.
That sentiment isn’t unique to Lubbock. In Tuscaloosa, too, the right hire can rally the donor base.
So far, DeBoer hasn’t been that galvanizing figure for Alabama’s power brokers. Another disappointing season could widen that disconnect.
The good news? There’s still talent on the roster.
There’s still tradition and expectation. And there’s still time - but not much.
If Alabama wants to avoid slipping further behind the likes of Georgia, Texas, and LSU, 2026 needs to be a statement year.
Because in the SEC, especially at a place like Alabama, the seat doesn’t just get warm. It catches fire. And unless DeBoer can deliver, the temperature in Tuscaloosa is about to rise - fast.