Moving on from the 2024 season will not be easy for Alabama football fans. As John Mitchell wrote, Alabama's long run of invincibility under Nick Saban is over. The greatest dynasty in the history of college football is old news; it is still a glorious memory but no longer pertinent to what Alabama Football is now.
When assigning blame, the buck stops with Kalen DeBoer. That DeBoer inherited a program that had already slipped below greatness provides no excuse. College football's unfettered free agency is another culprit, but bemoaning it provides no solace.
Around a dozen current Alabama football players must decide whether to return or transition to NFL opportunities. Not all of them will leave, at least several will. Many Crimson Tide fans are hoping one of them will be Jalen Milroe. In addition, the post-bowl game added Transfer Portal window may bring other exits. It could be a rocky few days for Kalen DeBoer and his staff. But after those days, DeBoer should have no problem putting the 2024 season away and beginning the build of 'his' first Crimson Tide team. The 2025 team will not be one Kalen DeBoer inherited from Nick Saban. The 2025 roster rebuild should give DeBoer the personnel to fully run DeBoer's respected offense.
DeBoer's offense could not be run with Jalen Milroe. The outstanding young man did great things for the Crimson Tide. Still, his weaknesses and inconsistencies shackled the Alabama offense in nearly every quarter played since the Crimson Tide took a 21-0 lead over Georgia in September.
Predictions of how good or bad Alabama will be in 2025 are pointless. It is impossible to know. More Portal exits from current key players could adversely impact the 2025 roster. DeBoer will have to ward off tampering in a college football world that often throws millions at players for one season's play. Along with inheriting a Nick Saban roster, DeBoer gained an Alabama Football discount on player deals. That discount may no longer exist.
Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Football Future
Many Alabama Crimson Tide fans question whether DeBoer can ever return Alabama Football to greatness. That doubt will at least linger into next season. The doubt may never go away. But the 2025 Crimson Tide will have a talented roster and it will be one that Kalen DeBoer and his staff can fully utilize for football to be played as their philosophies require.
Note: The spark for this post came from Bama OnLine's Jimmy Stein. Not long after the bowl game, Stein was the first to state next season will be DeBoer's first Alabama team.