Advertisement

Kalen DeBoer to Michigan rumors can be put to rest once and for all for Alabama

What a win for the Tide.
Braulio Perez
Braulio Perez

Bama Hammer

2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game - Alabama v Oklahoma / Brian Bahr/GettyImages

Talk about a win to remember for Alabama and head man Kalen DeBoer. Down 17-0 at one point, people were fearing the worst. Not only was the season about to come to a close for Bama, but rumors were once again flying that DeBoer might be off to Michigan soon enough.

Refs tried screwing Alabama with the worst CFP penalty call ever

Then, everything changed. Alabama turned things all the way around, tying things up at 17-17 before half and then the Tide were the dominant side in the second half, posting a 34-24 win. Now, Alabama is off to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with No. 1 Indiana up next.

Had Alabama lost, everyone seriously would have been talking about DeBoer potentially leaving. Now, though, there's just no way anything happens. It's time for Michigan to look at backup plans, as Alabama and DeBoer have silenced haters everywhere and they've proven they're a fantastic match.

Michigan can take Kalen DeBoer off its head coach board with the Alabama win

Before kickoff, even Nick Saban appeared to open the door a bit with him hinting Michigan could make a run at DeBoer. However, the legendary Alabama coach also said that everyone loves DeBoer in Tuscaloosa and keeping him is a priority.

Per Pete Thamel, there are talks of a new deal going on for DeBoer with the Tide to make sure he doesn't go anywhere. What, are Warde Manuel and Michigan ready to throw DeBoer a blank check to get him to move to Ann Arbor?

Obviously, Michigan is going to do what's needed to bring in a big-name coach to replace Sherrone Moore, but Bama fully understands what DeBoer means to this program. Also, this is only Year 2 for the veteran coach with the SEC powerhouse. Is he ready to move once again? We don't think so.

Had Alabama lost to Oklahoma, people might have even been calling for DeBoer to get fired, which of course would have been absurd. Nothing to worry about there, as the Crimson Tide are one step closer to completing their natty dreams. Some haters might still doubt DeBoer, but he just recorded an unreal win. As for Michigan, time to go all-in for Kenny Dillingham.

Braulio Perez

Braulio Perez

Braulio Perez is an NCAA Content Director for FanSided, joining Minute Media in 2017 after 2.5 years at the Newark Star-Ledger as a high school sports reporter and 2.5 years at the Lynden Tribune as sports editor. While with the Lynden Tribune, Perez was named the Sports Writer of the Year in 2012 for his division by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. At the Star-Ledger, he also assisted in coverage of college football recruiting. Perez's focus has been on college football recruiting, high school sports, the NFL, NCAA and English Premier League. He is also a regular contributor for 247Sports' Cougfan.com.