Nick Saban thinks Alabama is being overlooked heading into 2026, and he says Kalen DeBoer is handling the challenge the right way.
Speaking with Pat McAfee on Thursday, the former Crimson Tide coach praised DeBoer’s work in Tuscaloosa and said Alabama is “flying under the radar” entering the season. That was the same phrase DeBoer used on Wednesday, making it clear the current coach and the man who built the standard are seeing the same thing.
The buzz around the SEC doesn’t exactly favor Alabama right now. The SEC Media Poll is set to come out after Media Days wrap up, and the Crimson Tide are not expected to land in the top three.
Instead, Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss and LSU are drawing most of the national attention. Alabama’s quieter profile makes sense on paper, with QB Ty Simpson and several defenders off to the NFL, plus an ongoing quarterback battle as fall camp approaches.
Saban didn’t sugarcoat the job DeBoer has in front of him, but he made it clear he respects the way DeBoer has embraced it.
“I think he’s doing a really good job. Do I think it’s an easy job?
Hell no,” Saban said, via Mike Rodak. This league is a tough league.
Recruiting is tough. This culture that we have now where people are going all over the country based on the new economic situation players have makes it even more difficult.
But I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for him to take on that challenge and embrace that challenge and try to work through it and build something special at Alabama.”
Saban added that he has continued to back DeBoer and hopes the Crimson Tide can capitalize on being overlooked.
“I’ve always been very supportive of him and I’m hopeful that - they’re flying a little bit under the radar in terms of the kind of team they have and what they lost and what they have to replace - but I’m hoping that they do well and he comes out of this on top.”
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