The Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama hasn't been perfect, but there have been tangible signs of progress in year two.
After missing the playoff last year, Alabama made the College Football Playoff this season. It also made the SEC Championship Game, and DeBoer just wrapped up a second consecutive top-five signing class.
Things are looking up in Tuscaloosa, and the future is bright.
But don't let the national media hear you say that.
They continue to sow the seeds of disconnect between DeBoer and the Alabama braintrust. One day, it's DeBoer isn't happy at Alabama and is looking for an off-ramp to Happy Valley or Ann Arbor. The next, it's Alabama fans and boosters that aren't happy with DeBoer, and he's already on the hot seat.
That's despite the fact that DeBoer has publicly stated - multiple times recently - that he and his family are happy in Tuscaloosa. It's also despite the fact that On3's Chris Low and Pete Nakos have reported that DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have been engaged in talks for a contract extension.
But let's not let facts get in the way of a ridiculous narrative.
CBS college football writer Tom Fornelli decided to weave a yarn about DeBoer's job security on Wednesday, just 48 hours before Alabama faces Oklahoma in the playoff.
Fornelli said that he doesn't buy the Michigan rumors, but he believes DeBoer will be on the hot seat heading into 2026 if the Crimson Tide loses to the Sooners on Friday night:
"If Alabama loses to the Sooners, [Kalen DeBoer] is going into 2026 on the hot seat."@TomFornelli pic.twitter.com/3Y3l9qWCFe
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 18, 2025
Tom Fornelli says Kalen DeBoer will be on the hot seat if Alabama loses to Oklahoma
There's not a fanbase in the country that sees more credence given to the vocal minority than Alabama fans. It's confirmation bias. The national media has a perception that expectations are unrealistic in Tuscaloosa, mostly stemming from Bill Curry being effectively forced out following the 1989 season after winning the SEC. That of course ignores that Curry went winless in Iron Bowls. DeBoer is 2-0 against Auburn, if you'd like to keep count.
Fornelli took it one step further with an even more outlandish take in the above video. Not only did he state he believes DeBoer will be on the hotseat in 2026 if Alabama loses to Oklahoma, but he also said DeBoer would probably be on the hot seat if the Crimson Tide does anything short of winning the National Championship in this year's playoff.
A silly narrative to peddle, but non-Alabama fans across the country will eat it up and accept it as fact even when it couldn't be further from the truth.
Damien Harris's comments on the same network Fornelli works for didn't help matters. If a beloved former player believes DeBoer is coaching for his job, then it must be true, right?
Except evidently, he has been coaching for his job the last three games. His job was on the line in the Iron Bowl, too, according to many national outlets begging for clicks. The case was the same in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia.
There's plenty of noise around DeBoer, but every bit of it is being made up outside of Tuscaloosa. Inside our bubble, the majority are fully on board with DeBoer and the direction of the program, regardless of what happens tomorrow night.