The Alabama Crimson Tide football program is at a turning point. The program progressed during the 2025 season, surpassing its 2024 achievements. But in many things, and certainly in sports, what matters is the finish. The Crimson Tide's finish was one of its lowest points this century.
Changes often happen quickly in today's college world. The Transfer Portal requires that Kalen DeBoer act quickly. The 'how' can be debated, but there is no debate of 'why' Alabama must change. The situation feels like Alabama must 'Adapt or Die.' Brad Pitt, as Billy Beane, said those words in Moneyball. Decades before Billy Beane, an LSU business professor, explained the Darwinian concept.
- "It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able to adapt to and to adjust best to the changing environment in which it finds itself……"
This college football season indicates that the changing environment is roster-building through Portal transfers. A series of tweets from College Football Nerds provides eye-opening numbers: " the majority (roughly 2/3) of the college playoff semifinal starters are transfers."
The Indiana Hoosiers have 47 fourth, fifth, or sixth-year players. Curt Cignetti did not go 'all Lane Kiffin' in the offseason. Indiana brought in 23 transfers. The Ole Miss Playoff Semi-final team brought in 30.
Other teams improved quickly by relying on transfers. Oklahoma went from 6-7 to 10-3, with the help of 21 transfer additions. Virginia went from 5-7 to 11-3 after adding 31 transfers. Texas Tech threw big dollars at 21 transfers and went from 8-5 to 12-2 and a playoff team. Other examples of success with large portal classes are North Texas (37 transfers), Tulane (35), and James Madison (31).
Alabama Crimson Tide and Portal Philosophy
The view on the other side of transfer madness is quite different. Ten noteworthy programs were conservative about roster building through the Transfer Portal. From four portal additions (Clemson) to 12 (Alabama), none of the 10 teams reached their season goals. Texas added 11 transfers and failed to make the Playoff. Penn State, Florida, and Notre Dame, with eight transfers, Iowa (9), Tennessee (7), Georgia (10), Clemson (4), and especially Alabama, with 12 additions, all fell short of expectations.
Because many programs front-loaded payroll payments before the House settlement was approved, the 2026 cycle was predicted to have contractions in spending sprees. Early estimates of the cost of players in this cycle suggest more increases than decreases.
The risk for Alabama is if Kalen DeBoer does not adapt enough, the Crimson Tide could become another faded brand like Clemson. To succeed Alabama will need more changes than adding a larger number of transfers. Staff changes appear essential. Systems of play may need makeovers. It is much to ask for any coach. Adapt or die may not be the only scenario, but it might be the most likely one.