Paul Finebaum has made a career out of stirring the pot, so when he has a rational take, I never really know what to think. Finebaum was extremely critical of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer a year ago during his debut season in Tuscaloosa. But he has been overly positive about DeBoer heading into year two at the Capstone.
Recently on his radio show, Finebaum shut down any talk of DeBoer being on the hot seat, talking up the tremendous offseason at Alabama. People are fully bought into DeBoer's vision - both inside and outside the program - and Finebaum knows it.
“All I know right now is Kalen DeBoer has a lot of support in Alabama,” Finebaum said. “I think that’s important. It’s one thing if you start the season on shaky ground. He does not. His recruiting has been outstanding. Everyone seems to be aligned with him.”
Last season was certainly a disappointment for Alabama. A 9-4 record was the worst single season in Tuscaloosa since 2007. DeBoer faced plenty of pressure following the season, but things have been overwhelmingly positive around the program since the finish to the 2024 season.
Alabama signed a Top 5 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, is in line to sign another top class in 2026, and went through the spring Transfer Portal window without losing a single player. Players and fans are bought in, at least for now, and that's hard to ignore.
Kalen DeBoer isn't on the hot seat this season unless Alabama bottoms out
It would take a monumentally poor season - think Mike DuBose in 2000 when Alabama started the season ranked in the Top 5 in the country just to go 3-8 - for Greg Byrne to seriously consider letting DeBoer go. He's owed entirely too much money in a buyout, money that would have to be removed from the recruiting coffers.
So the damage to Alabama's national perception would have to take a big enough hit this season that it outweighs the monetary damage to the Crimson Tide's recruiting budget.
DeBoer needs to get Alabama into the College Football Playoff this year. It's not National Championship or bust for him, but making the playoff is probably the bare minimum of what Tide fans will accept for a sophomore season of his tenure.
This team is certainly talented enough to do so. With steady quarterback play, Alabama may be the best team in the country top-to-bottom. They have to perform better on the road - and they have to perform better in close games - but this team has what it needs from coaching and personnel to be among the nation's best.
DeBoer isn't coaching for his job this season. But a second straight season missing the 12-team College Football Playoff would likely change that narrative heading into 2026.