David Pollack: Kalen DeBoer Faces Pressure to Make Playoffs or Risk Being Fired
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The Kalen DeBoer era of the Alabama Crimson Tide is entering its third year. DeBoer has a record of 20-8 over the past two seasons since taking over from legendary head coach Nick Saban.
Replacing a figure like Saban came with immense expectations and pressure. DeBoer had spent the previous two seasons at Washington, where he achieved a record of 25-3 and participated in a national championship game. Alabama fans were hoping for similar success. However, that has not materialized.
In his first season, the Crimson Tide finished with a 9-4 record but did not win the SEC or qualify for the College Football Playoff. In 2025, the team improved to an 11-4 record, yet still did not capture the SEC title. They did, however, qualify for the College Football Playoff, advancing to the semifinals. Unfortunately, they were dominated by the Indiana Hoosiers, 38-3, despite having defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 34-24 in the first round.
On the show “See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack,” the former Georgia Bulldog was asked whether it was more likely that Alabama would make the playoff in 2026 or that DeBoer would not be with the team after this season. Pollack responded that if the Crimson Tide fails to make the playoffs this season, it is likely that DeBoer will be gone.
“If he’s not in the playoff, he’s gone,” Pollack said. “I think that’s factual. I don’t know what’s going on at Alabama. If you are asking me to bet on it, I can’t bet that they’re going to the playoff. I can’t.”
What makes this situation particularly volatile is the standard DeBoer is being measured against. At most programs, a playoff appearance in Year 2 would signal clear progress, but at Alabama, it simply reinforces the expectation that anything less than competing for a national title isn’t enough. That reality compresses timelines and raises the stakes for every decision made within the program.
The real question isn’t just whether Alabama makes the playoff, but how it looks getting there. Dominance, consistency and control, those are the traits that defined the program for years, and anything short of that continues to fuel doubt. Style points matter here, not just results, especially when comparisons to the previous era are unavoidable.
If DeBoer can deliver a team that looks complete and capable of winning it all, the narrative shifts quickly. If not, the pressure won’t just linger; it will escalate. And in a place like Alabama, that escalation rarely leaves room for patience.
Related: Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Leading for 5-Star WR in 2027 Recruiting Class
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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