There wasn’t much that went wrong for Alabama in its 56-0 Week 13 win over Eastern Illinois, but one major issue took another step in the wrong direction. That would be the right foot of sophomore kicker Conor Talty.
In the first quarter, Talty missed his eighth field goal of the season, a 28-yarder, and was met with boos from the Crimson Tide faithful at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Later in the first half, Talty trotted out for an extra point attempt after the Crimson Tide’s third touchdown of the game, and though he made the kick, he was showered with more boos.
In his postgame press conference, DeBoer had a message for those fans, and the underlying truth in his words should terrify the Crimson Tide faithful as they look forward to the Iron Bowl, the SEC Championship Game, and the College Football Playoff.
Kalen DeBoer on fans booing Conor Talty:
— Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) November 22, 2025
“I wish they had his back the way I know our locker room has his back.”
On its face, that’s a nothing statement. Of course, DeBoer isn’t going to throw his player under the bus after another missed kick, and of course, he’s going to say the locker room has his back. However, the statement also reads as an endorsement of Talty as his starter heading into the Iron Bowl and beyond.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama sticking with Conor Talty following another miss
Conor Talty has already cost Alabama six spots in the CFP Rankings. That’s how far the Tide fell after last week’s two-point loss to Oklahoma, which featured a 36-yard miss from the sophomore. Now, with Talty’s issues not improving, he could cost them even more.
Another loss in the regular season, falling to Auburn at Jordan-Hare on Saturday, would knock the Tide out of the SEC Title Game. The same could potentially be said of an SEC Title Game matchup with either Texas A&M or Georgia, and if Alabama makes the CFP, every game from there on out is win-or-go-home. Any of those matchups could come down to Talty making a big kick, and no matter DeBoer’s pleading or the faith that the locker room supposedly has in him, Alabama fans will be terrified to see him trot out onto the field.
Following Alabama’s fourth touchdown of the game, DeBoer allowed freshman place kicker Peter Notaro to attempt his fifth extra point of the season. Notaro was met with cheers, but it doesn’t appear that the fanbase is going to get what it wants with Notaro taking over kicking duties going forward.
Notaro has yet to attempt a field goal in his Alabama career, and if he hasn’t beaten out Talty in practice yet, then it would likely only get worse if DeBoer did make a switch this late in the season. Still, that won’t stop Alabama fans from holding their breath every time Talty trots out onto the field.