RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe college football season is approaching, and one of the teams under the microscope is the Alabama Crimson Tide. After head coach Kalen DeBoer led Alabama back to the College Football Playoff, expectations are only continuing to rise.
DeBoer’s hiring was somewhat polarizing, but he also guided Washington to the national championship game just three seasons ago. Even so, Alabama fans remain accustomed to the unprecedented success achieved by his predecessor.
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Paul Finebaum believes that despite the mounting pressure, DeBoer’s job is safe for now. The key reason, however, has little to do with on-field performance.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer leaves the field after the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images “I think he’s probably a lot safer than he appears,” Finebaum said on his show . “And the reason is economics. Alabama can’t afford to buy him out right now unless something cataclysmic occurs. There are situations where money is not the problem, but Alabama is a long way from that.”
Whoever succeeded Nick Saban was always going to have enormous shoes to fill. At the same time, they inherited one of college football’s premier programs. The challenge was maintaining the momentum that Saban built.
By most accounts, Alabama is still moving in the right direction, just not at the level the program and its fan base have come to expect. Under Saban, the Crimson Tide were perennial national title contenders. Under DeBoer, the conversation has shifted toward simply securing a spot in the College Football Playoff.
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Chances are DeBoer will receive a couple more seasons to move Alabama back within striking distance of the College Football Playoff national championship game. The administration and fan base will likely accept measurable progress over the next two years.
Dec 6, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer gestures on the sidelines after a dropped pass in the end zone against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News What they won’t accept, however, is a program that isn’t any closer to competing for championships than it was when DeBoer arrived.
There’s still plenty of football left to play this season, and DeBoer could soon begin to feel the pressure despite signing a lucrative reworked contract last year.
Will DeBoer and Alabama make a serious push in 2026?
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