Kalen DeBoer could soon leave the Alabama Crimson Tide for the Michigan Wolverines job after Sherrone Moore's sudden firing on Wednesday afternoon. ESPN Baton Rouge's Matt Moscona reported as much in the immediate aftermath.
As the Louisiana-based reporter revealed, Moscona's source ended up being correct about Moore's firing this past weekend. Moscona didn't report the Moore rumor when he heard about it.
"I got a call Saturday that Sherrone Moore was going to be fired for cause due to an inappropriate relationship. Not sure I believed it—I hear wild rumors all the time," Moscona prefaced before saying, "Well, this person was right.
"The person also mentioned Michigan would target Kalen DeBoer as Moore’s replacement.
"Take that FWIW. But he already got the more incredible part of the story correct."
DeBoer's Washington Huskies lost to the Wolverines in the 2024 national championship game right before he took the Alabama job, and his Tide program lost to Michigan in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl. Certainly, he's familiar with "TTUN."
He's also familiar with being linked to Big Ten programs this hiring cycle.
DeBoer was strongly linked to the Penn State Nittany Lions' head coaching opening before PSU hired Matt Campbell away from the Iowa State Cyclones. DeBoer denied any interest in going to Happy Valley last week before a 28-7 SEC Championship Game loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.
“Yeah, we’re extremely happy at Alabama,” DeBoer said on Thursday. “This is the first time I’ve been asked. We’re extremely happy here. Love the challenge, love the grind, love this place. There’s never been any link, there’s never been any conversation, there’s never been any interest either way. I’m glad we can put that to bed right now.”
Michigan is more likely to poach Kalen DeBoer than Penn State was
Michigan is clearly a better opportunity than Penn State. UM is one of the six main revenue producers in the sport, as is Alabama, but DeBoer's midwestern roots could give him a leg up in recruiting from the jump. Not to mention, he'd be much more appreciated in Ann Arbor than in Tuscaloosa.
Perhaps a big loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff, which would be his third loss in two years to OU, could get the ball rolling for DeBoer-to-UM. We already know his family doesn't appreciate dealing with the Tide fanbase, and the backlash from a first-round CFP loss would bring nuclear heat to the 51-year-old throughout the state of Alabama.