Things could not have gone worse for Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Kalen DeBoer on Saturday.
His team marched into Talahasssee, Florida, and limped out with a 31-17 loss and more question marks than the Riddler's suit. It's not a stretch to say that Alabama is past code red. It's a code crimson situation in Tuscaloosa.
And DeBoer may not come of it with his dignity, or his job.
USA Today's Paul Myerberg discussed the Crimson Tide firing DeBoer and bringing on a new head coach for the 2026 season -- claiming that "it's always better to replace the guy who replaced the guy."
"He’ll shoulder the blame for Alabama’s latest failure, as he should. The next few months will determine whether DeBoer returns in 2026, though you’d have to think he’d get at least one more year unless the Tide completely disintegrate in SEC play. More than a result of evaluation, development or game-day preparation, DeBoer’s current predicament can be linked to a fateful choice: to replace the greatest coach in program history and inherit Saban-era expectations. It’s always better to replace the guy who replaces the guy, you know," Myerberg wrote.
Someone had to replace Nick Saban. Looking back at it, a guy who isn't from the region and never coached in the SEC wasn't the best choice.
Alabama should've leaned in and hired Lane Kiffin to go full curmudgeon. He's already familiar with the strip. Getting a squeaky-clean, vanilla nice guy from the Midwest isn't the Crimson Tide way. Even if he was coming off a brilliant run with the Washington Huskies, getting UW to its first College Football Playoff National Championship.
Now, Alabama has to replace the guy who replaced the guy.
If Saban doesn't want to come back, that search is going to be just as stressful as the original, following his retirement.