Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer was so close to leaving Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Wolverines' open head coaching job.
Had the team not had its strongest stretch of two-way football in the DeBoer era from the second quarter and on during a 34-24 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff's first round, overcoming an early 17-0 hole, DeBoer would've had conversations with Michigan, per USA Today's Paul Myerberg.
And we all know how those conversations would've gone, since the backlash from an Alabama loss would've been too much for the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native to handle.
"It’s extremely easy to think about how the Alabama fan base would’ve turned on DeBoer had the Tide not tied for the largest comeback in playoff history by digging out of a 17-0 deficit in the second quarter. Another loss to Oklahoma might’ve even been enough to convince DeBoer to at least take a look at the Michigan opening, given the chance for a reboot in the Big Ten. But after missing the playoff entirely last year, DeBoer and Alabama nailed down a much-needed postseason win and can begin evaluating the nation’s only unbeaten team in the Hoosiers," Myerberg wrote.
Why hasn't Kalen DeBoer put pen to paper with Alabama?
DeBoer will now be with the team through January 1, at least, when the Crimson Tide takes on the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl. Related: The transfer portal window in College Football opens on January 2.
There's enough time for Michigan to be a little late to the portal party after installing their new man if they decide to make their hiring on January 2. You see where this is going?
Until DeBoer signs an extension with Alabama, this kind of speculation is fair game. He can dole out press releases that deny interest in leaving all he wants. Putting pen to paper is the only way his word can be trusted.