For years, Alabama fans knew what to expect from The Crimson Tide. Every season came with the expectation of competing for a national championship, and anything less could feel like a disappointment. But since Nick Saban retired in January 2024, Alabama fans have had to adjust to a new reality under Kalen DeBoer.
The expectation to win championships has not changed. What has changed is the consistency, and fans are still figuring out how much time they should give DeBoer to establish his own program.
Saban spent 17 seasons at Alabama, winning six national championships and nine SEC titles. Under his leadership, Alabama became one of the most successful programs in college football. Winning was not just something the team hoped to do. It became what fans expected.
That history makes DeBoer’s job more complicated. He did not take over a program trying to become a national contender. He took over one that had spent years competing for championships, with fans who were used to seeing their team at the top.
For some Alabama fans, anything less than a championship can feel like a step in the opposite direction. For others, the program needs time to adjust to a new coach before it can consistently reach that level again.
Both perspectives are understandable, but the question is how Alabama fans can maintain their expectations without comparing every season to the Saban era.
DeBoer’s first two seasons have given fans reasons to debate that question. Alabama finished 9-4 in 2024 and missed the College Football Playoff. The team improved to 11-4 in 2025, reached the playoffs, and defeated Oklahoma in the first round before losing to Indiana in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.
The improvement was encouraging, but the season still ended short of a national championship. For a program like Alabama, reaching the playoff is an accomplishment, but it does not necessarily mean the team has met every expectation.
That is where the difference between patience and lowered expectations becomes important.
Giving DeBoer time to build his program does not mean fans should stop expecting Alabama to compete for championships. The program still has a winning tradition, and its goals should reflect that. At the same time, expecting DeBoer to immediately recreate what Saban accomplished ignores how difficult it is to follow a coach who spent nearly two decades building that standard.
Even Saban did not win a national championship every season. His six titles at Alabama came over 17 seasons. His legacy was built on sustained success, not winning a championship every year, even though that was the goal.
DeBoer should be held accountable for his results, but his tenure should also be judged by whether Alabama is improving and becoming more consistent. One disappointing loss does not automatically mean the program is failing, just as one big win does not mean every problem has been fixed.
Kalen DeBoer is still working to win Alabama fans over in 2026
The 2026 season has continued that debate. Alabama opened with five consecutive wins before losing to Georgia and Tennessee. The Crimson Tide then responded with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M on Oct. 24, bringing its record to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play.
The season has not been without its frustrations, but the response against Texas A&M showed why it is worth looking at the team’s performance over time. Alabama still has areas to improve, and one victory does not erase consecutive losses. However, the team’s ability to respond also shows that they can come back from those defeats.
As a University of Alabama student, it is difficult to separate the program’s current expectations from everything that came before DeBoer. Saban’s success shaped how an entire generation of fans views Alabama football. When winning championships becomes the norm, it can be hard to accept that a new era might look different.
That does not mean Alabama fans should settle for less. They have every reason to expect the team to compete for SEC and national championships. But there is a difference between expecting Alabama to compete for a title and expecting it to win one every season.
DeBoer should have to prove that he can maintain the standard Alabama has established. Fans should be able to criticize losses, question performances, and expect improvement. But they should also recognize that building consistency takes time and that the program does not have to repeat the Saban era to remain successful.
Alabama football is not going to stop being Alabama football because Saban is gone. The history, expectations, and desire to win championships are still there. The challenge is figuring out what those expectations look like under a different coach.
For Alabama fans, adjusting to life after Saban does not mean forgetting what the program has accomplished or lowering the bar for the future. It means recognizing that the next era will not necessarily look like the last one.
Alabama should still expect to compete for championships. But fans also have to give DeBoer the opportunity to build a program that can meet those expectations, rather than expecting him to recreate everything Saban did.
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