Kalen DeBoer is beginning to understand what it takes to win at Alabama

Kalen DeBoer was all business in the aftermath of Alabama's 42-13 win over LSU in Baton Rouge. In the postgame interview with Holly Rowe, DeBoer was unemotional. He said he wouldn't take much time to enjoy this game and immediately commented on the gauntlet that remains in front of his Crimson Tide for the remainder of November.

But this was the toughest test that was left in the regular season, and Alabama and DeBoer passed it with flying colors. Winning on the road is never easy, so even in a down year Oklahoma won't be a pushover in Norman. And even at home, you can never take the Iron Bowl lightly.

But DeBoer's focus is where it needs to be. He's clearly happy with the way his team played. He flashed a smile late in the 4th quarter when the result was no longer in doubt. But he's showing fire on the sideline we didn't see in the early part of the season. He's chewing out players and coaches. He's doing his part to hold his team accountable, and as it always does, leadership starts from the top and rolls down. The leaders on the team, namely junior guard Tyler Booker, are taking cues from the coach and doing the same thing.

Perhaps more importantly, his team is playing to a standard and not the scoreboard. Leading 35-6 in the 4th quarter, and the defense was still flying around like the game was tied.

DeBoer is clearly a gifted tactician. He showed that by out-scheming Kirby Smart in September when Alabama blasted Georgia for 30 minutes before frantically hanging on for the victory. But DeBoer and the team probably celebrated that win a little too much. They were too relieved to have gotten that win, undoubtedly a big one, but DeBoer got a quick lesson in what it takes to win every week in the SEC.

Alabama lost the next week to Vanderbilt. Two weeks later it lost again to Tennessee. It's easy to forget that DeBoer is in just his fourth year as a P4 conference head coach. It's his first at Alabama, in the SEC, where things are different. You have to bring your best every week because every team in this league is capable of beating you.

I think that's something DeBoer probably took for granted. But it's something that you probably can't understand until you've seen it up close. And now he has, and his new, business-like approach the last few weeks has been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Alabama players and the fans.

Alabama looks like a completely different team than it did just a few short weeks ago. And in the 12-team playoff era, the dream of a national championship is still very much alive despite the two losses. And if DeBoer prepares his team like he did for LSU, then Alabama is as good as anyone, and could very well win the title.