Tuscaloosa’s sky isn’t as crimson as it used to be. With Nick Saban gone, Alabama just limped through one of their worst seasons in a decade—no playoffs, upset losses, and a general sense of being lost at home. Kalen DeBoer’s feeling the heat, but hold on! His old offensive mastermind, Ryan Grubb, is back in the mix. Can this reunion reignite the Tide? DeBoer’s facing an identity crisis warning, as the harsh reality of coaching at Alabama sets in. It’s not just about coaching changes; it’s about the players, their fit, and finding a consistent offensive rhythm.
Last season, without Grubb, DeBoer’s offense looked lost at sea. One week, they’d run wild against LSU, racking up nearly 300 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Fast forward three weeks, and against Tennessee, they were airing it out 49 times with Milroe. “Bama’s offense last year didn’t really know their own identity from week to week—you saw that,” SEC Mike’s Chris Marler pointed out. And he ain’t lying. It was a weekly quarterback carousel of confusion, not excitement.
Enter Ryan Grubb. After a brief, not-so-sweet stint in the NFL as Seattle’s OC, he is back where he belongs. SEC Mike put it plain: “I think Grubb will bring more experience, more calmness, and a better understanding of what DeBoer wants to do. With Sheridan, it just felt like he was thrust into that position because Grubb wasn’t there, and you just kind of hoped for the best—but it wasn’t great.” Translation? Grubb ain’t here to experiment—he’s here to bring that old charm back. And that’s pure offensive destruction.
DeBoer and Grubb have been cookin’ together for years, first flipping Fresno State from a middle-tier squad to a top offense, then pulling off a Hollywood-style turnaround at Washington. They inherited a 4-8 team, turned Michael Penix Jr. into an NFL-ready monster, and had defenses looking lost every Saturday. Then Bama called, and DeBoer took the throne. Grubb was supposed to roll with him but took a detour to the NFL. That trip ended quickly, and now he’s back.
Kalen DeBoer’s 2025 season amidst gloomy forecast
But here’s the thing—while the reunion is exciting, Alabama’s path to redemption ain’t exactly smooth. The 2025 schedule kicks off with a brutal road trip to Tallahassee for a Week 1 clash against Florida State. SEC Mike didn’t sugarcoat it: “I just want to see a squirm here in Week 1 at Florida State. I mean, is there a bigger game in the country where both coaches literally can’t afford to lose? God forbid Kalen DeBoer loses that game. It’s not going to derail the season, but it’s going to be an epic meltdown.” And he’s right. A loss to FSU means Alabama has to go to Athens and beat Kirby Smart’s Georgia just a few weeks later, or the entire season could spiral.
Let’s not forget—in 2024 Alabama had some nasty losses. Getting smacked by Vanderbilt? Unforgivable. Taking an L to Tennessee and a 6-6 Oklahoma squad? Straight-up embarrassing. Marler didn’t hold back when asked how 2025 might go: “Listen, Bama will lose their first two games. Then win the next nine. And then lose to Auburn to not make the playoff. That’s the Kalen DeBoer way.”
That’s the tightrope DeBoer and Grubb are walking. If they click like they did at Washington, Alabama might be cooking again. But if they fumble those early games? Tuscaloosa might be looking for a new head coach real soon.
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