There's no hiding from the fact that Kalen DeBoer's first season with the Crimson Tide was far from ideal, with a loss to Vanderbilt highlighting the flaws in the system.
Heading into his second year at Alabama, it isn't make or break for his tenure in Tuscaloosa. However, fans were ready to call for his job after a 9-5 record, so DeBoer would be ignorant to think that the pressure on him isn't as high as possible.
While at the 2025 SEC Media Days, DeBoer didn't shy away from the expectations that are currently looming overhead for the Alabama head coach.
"We fell short of making the playoffs. It's as simple as that," DeBoer said. "We're going to take advantage of the failures we've had and be better because of it."
Kalen DeBoer with the Alabama Crimson Tide
- 9-4 overall record
- Wins: Western Kentucky, South Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, LSU, Mercer, Auburn
- Losses: Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Michigan
Yes, DeBoer led the Tide to a bowl game appearance, where they put up just 13 points and lost to a lackluster Michigan Wolverines squad. The losses to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt were also moments that caused the fan base to wake up and accept the fact that the Nick Saban era was finally over.
However, with wins over then-ranked Georgia, Missouri, and LSU, the 2024 season wasn't a complete wash for DeBoer and Alabama. The season just wasn't good enough for the Crimson Tide.
This year, anything short of a College Football Playoff appearance will have DeBoer's seat temperature rising, especially if Alabama goes through a handful of embarrassing losses (i.e., OU and Vandy) for another year.
Alabama kicks off its 2025 campaign against the Florida State Seminoles, who are coming off a 2-10 overall record. The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 30. It will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN+.