The Alabama Crimson Tide are "under the radar" now under Kalen DeBoer. Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs are in the running for a third straight SEC Championship in 2026 and most believe the Texas Longhorns and LSU Tigers are their primary competition after massive spending sprees in the transfer portal.
AL.com's Andrew Hammond implied Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer will face the end of the line in Tuscaloosa if Alabama can't get itself back on top of its high-spending, or simply better-coached, conference counterparts.
"As the Georgia Bulldogs looks for a third-straight SEC championship, with Texas and LSU hot on their stubby tail, where does that leave the Alabama Crimson Tide? Entering Kalen DeBoer’s third season, where he will officially have his QB under center, as Ty Simpson, the last of the Saban signal callers in Tuscaloosa, is NFL bound," Hammond wrote.
"With a new quarterback, either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell, it will be interesting to see what Alabama does on offense. Defense will also provide some intrigue as a front seven who helped Alabama reach the playoff will see an overhaul with players like Tim Keenan, and Deontae Lawson headed to the pros.
"While Alabama may be looking to maintain their success and status as a consistent playoff contender, DeBoer also has to shake the stigma of dropping games they shouldn’t or getting boat-raced like they did vs. Georgia in the SEC championship game and vs. Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
"No matter if the seat is simmering or sizzling, expect the temperature to hit full-on solar surface if Alabama can’t make a run in 2026."
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Kalen DeBoer could permanently set Alabama back with another bad year
We're at the point with the Tide that the "good ol' days" may be officially over with. We know Alabama can't keep up with the Longhorns or Texas A&M Aggies in NIL/rev-share, as Texas Tech Red Raiders moneyman Cody Campbell recently revealed.
If the Crimson Tide keeps hanging onto DeBoer, irreparable damage may be done. Money can be raised by the donor class with the right guy. DeBoer has never been that to Alabama fans and likely never will be. Not after an embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl, a bowl game the Tide used to own.
Before 2024, Alabama's Rose Bowl record was 5-1-1. They've lost twice since, to Indiana and the Michigan Wolverines. Both were undefeated and won the national championship. But "No Excuses," right Tide fans?
Alabama used to be the team that went undefeated and ran the table, now they lose to the teams that do that. What's the next step?
Keep holding onto DeBoer and the Tide will soon find out.