Nick Saban offers silver lining of Alabama’s disappointing start to Kalen DeBoer era
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Nick Saban offers silver lining of Alabama’s disappointing start to Kalen DeBoer era appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alabama football understandably took a step back after Nick Saban retired, but the Crimson Tide still have very high expectations internally. After missing the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024, Kalen DeBoer and company were blown out in the CFP quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl last season by Indiana.
Those two results, which are disappointing in different ways, have DeBoer under the microscope heading into the 2026 season. Some Alabama fans would tell you that he’s on the hot seat, which may be a bit irrational coming off of a CFP appearance, but the expectations are different at Alabama.
However, that may not be the case this season. After the departure of Ty Simpson, Alabama isn’t being viewed as one of the top teams in the SEC.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
Saban thinks that might be a good thing.
“The one thing about Alabama this year is they’re flying under the radar a bit, a little bit unknown,” Saban said, via On3 Sports.
“I actually kind of liked that as a coach because when we were picked high, I always worried about how this is going to affect our offseason, our preparation, the culture you’re trying to develop as a team. Maybe Coach DeBoer really likes the fact that they’re flying under the radar a little.”
Even if the broader consensus about Alabama isn’t that it should be competing for a national title this season, the noise around DeBoer will still be very loud if that ends up being the case this season. The Crimson Tide are also managing a quarterback competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell at the moment, so they don’t even know who will be behind center.
Maybe DeBoer can spin the preseason narrative around Alabama into somewhat of an underdog story, and his team can exceed expectations as a result. But it won’t be easy against an SEC schedule that includes games against Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU.
Losses in those four games could mean the end for DeBoer at Alabama, but maybe the lessened pressure will lead to a surprisingly great season.
Related: Four HBCU players earn spots on CAA preseason all-conference team
Related: Florida football’s Jon Sumrall downplays viral moment with reporter
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos