Nick Saban was never a fan of putting expectations on his Alabama teams when he was roaming the sidelines in Tuscaloosa. Some things haven't changed even now that he's retired and Kalen DeBoer is the head man for the Crimson Tide.
Unfortunately for Saban, setting expectations and making predictions is part of his new job for ESPN on College GameDay. It's kind of the whole point of the show. It doesn't mean he has to like it.
2025 is a big year for DeBoer and Alabama. Coming off a disappointing first season that saw the Crimson Tide finish 9-4, the worst mark for a Tide team in 17 years, there's a mounting sense of pressure on DeBoer and his staff in year two.
It makes sense that people would want Saban's perspective on what to expect from Alabama in year two under DeBoer. Saban was the predecessor in Tuscaloosa, after all, and his opinion still carries a ton of weight in the state.
But if you're looking for Saban to say what you are all thinking, that 2025 is playoff or bust for DeBoer, or really set any expectations at all, you're sadly out of luck:
Saban did at least say what many overlooked last season. The transition was never going to be seamless. Last year's team was burdened with too high of expectations. In retrospect, growing pains should have been the expectation.
Those growing pains should give way to major growth this season, however.
A year two leap should be expected for Alabama under Kalen DeBoer
With apologies to Saban, expectations should be high for Alabama football in 2025. Expectations should be high for the Crimson Tide every year. That's just how things work around here. When your program has won 18 National Championships and produced arguably the two greatest coaches in the history of the sport, rebuilding years aren't really an option.
Patience is not a virtue afforded to Alabama coaches. The expectation is you win. And you win immediately.
A leap in year two should be expected for the Crimson Tide. The roster has been effectively flipped. DeBoer has his coaches in place. This is his team now. His program. For better or worse.
Saban's Alabama made a sizable leap in his second season as the Tide's head coach. In fact, that's a trait shared by nearly all of the successful coaches who have come through Tuscaloosa.
If DeBoer wants to join that elite group, an improvement from last season and a berth in the College Football Playoff should be expected in 2025.