Kalen DeBoer knew what he was signing up for when he stepped into Tuscaloosa. Replacing Nick Saban meant inheriting a program where anything less than a national championship feels like a failure. But after a 9-4 season that ended up in an embarrassing bowl game loss to Michigan, the honeymoon period is officially over. Right from the start, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum saw the problem in the job. “That job comes with pressure on Day 1,” he said. Now, as Alabama heads into 2025, the pressure is suffocating and patience is running thin.
If Alabama goes 9-3, what does it mean for Kalen DeBoer? Considering the disappointment of a 9-win season in 2024, CBS analyst Tom Fornelli isn’t optimistic if that scenario happens. “If they go 9-3, it would be the first time Alabama went consecutive seasons without winning at least 10 games since 2006-2007,” he pointed out in a new episode on Cover 3 Podcast on March 12. “You come back and you only win nine games again, unless you’re in the playoffs, you’re heading into Year 3 with your seat really, really hot. Fans are already starting hot boards on message boards of who they want to go after to replace your a—.” And that’s the reality DeBoer is staring down.
Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches his team warm up before a game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be the first with DeBoer as head coach of the Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
The Bama machine doesn’t slow down for rebuilds. Every year is a playoff-or-bust season in Tuscaloosa. The expectation isn’t just to win, it’s to dominate. But after losing three regular season games last year, including an embarrassing 24-3 defeat in the hands of a 6-6 Oklahoma team, the narrative is shifting. Instead of being the heir to Nick Saban’s empire, Kalen DeBoer is now fighting to keep his grip on it.
Kalen DeBoer’s contract comes with a hefty $70 million buyout. But Alabama might not hesitate to open its wallets if the program takes another step back. Especially with names like Dan Lanning already swirling in the rumor mill as Alabama’s next potential coach. Now, the arrival of OC Ryan Grubb was supposed to bring stability under center. But the biggest question mark still remains on who will replace Jalen Milroe. Now the Crimson Tide are stuck with a three-man race for QB1 — Keelon Russell, Ty Simpson, and Austin Mack. And if the situation isn’t resolved quickly, Bama could be looking at another rollercoaster season. But there’s hope.
Can Kalen DeBoer survive the 2025 season?
Despite the heavy crown that Kalen DeBoer wears, former Bama QB Greg McElroy still sees hope. And that’s to do with fixing the QB dilemma. “I really believe that if Alabama can get stability at the quarterback spot, they could really win a National championship next year,” he said. “If the quarterback play can be great, a National Championship is not completely out of the realm of possibilities.” But the grim reality is that “ifs” won’t cut it in Tuscaloosa.
The 2025 schedule isn’t doing Kalen DeBoer any favors. Alabama opens SEC play against Georgia on the road, an early season test that could set the tone. There’s also Tennessee, South Carolina, and Auburn, all hungry to take advantage of the Tide’s vulnerability. Paul Finebaum, in his prognosis for Bama, bluntly stated, “Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Auburn — they could lose all four.” If that happens, the DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa might not last long enough to see 2026.
The reality is simple. Kalen DeBoer doesn’t need just a good season, he needs a great one. Anything less and Alabama could be hunting for their next savior.
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