Paul Finebaum believes the conversation surrounding Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer would be completely different had the Auburn Tigers won the Iron Bowl instead of the predictable result we got.
Finebaum doesn't buy into the Michigan Wolverines chatter because DeBoer is focused on Alabama's College Football Playoff matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated the Tide in November.
He would've felt differently had the Iron Bowl swung the other way this year.
“Yeah, I mean, Kalen DeBoer’s people, certainly, are putting out the feelers of the word that he’s not interested, but that’s to be understood. We are one week away from one of the most important games of his two-year tenure,” Finebaum said on ESPN's Get Up. “Originally, the Auburn game was, because, had he lost the Auburn game, it would have been the rivalry game, but he’d be out of the playoff and he’d probably be looking for an exit.
“It is very mixed on Kalen DeBoer. Now, again, we’re on the Friday after a 21-point loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship. This season was rocky. It started with a loss to Florida State, it got very good, and then Alabama lost to Oklahoma late in the season. And this, by the way, would be the third loss to Oklahoma, assuming that happens a week from tonight, in two seasons. That just is not acceptable.
“I mean, I’ve sat in this very chair with you many times after Nick Saban lost a national championship game, not a regular season game but a title game, and it felt like the end of the world. That is the standard at Alabama, and the question is how long can Kalen DeBoer deal with it? So far, he’s handled it pretty well, but it’s only been two seasons.”
Auburn not winning the Iron Bowl changes Alabama and Michigan's fate
Michigan fans may or may not get DeBoer, when two weekends ago, they might've entered a bidding war with the Penn State Nittany Lions to land Alabama's head coach. Auburn fans definitely won't get a bowl game, understandably declining an invite to the Birmingham Bowl to avoid the chance of going 5-8 overall and 0-3 against FBS opponents with DJ Durkin as interim head coach, all as players bolt for the transfer portal.
The Tigers withheld chaos from the world by not completing their second-half comeback at Jordan-Hare Stadium. All of it would've brought great distress to the Tide. Then again, many Alabama fans probably would've accepted an Iron Bowl loss if it meant the program found a DeBoer replacement.
The Wolverines may have to settle for Jedd Fisch if DeBoer is truly off the table. Brutal result for a College Football blue blood.
A lot changes if Auburn wins that football game. Let's hope OU can conjure up all of that chaos again next week.