By Loveth 
Next season is going to be the real test for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. By now, the team is officially his. No more relying on Nick Saban’s recruits or trying to force someone else’s system to work. DeBoer overhauled the roster during the winter transfer portal, brought in his own players, and finally got the coaching staff he wanted from day one.
Biggest change? His offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is now on board, coming from the NFL after a year with the Seahawks. And unlike last year, they won’t be stuck with a quarterback who doesn’t fit their scheme. They’ve got three solid options: a seasoned junior, a third-year guy who knows the system, and a super-talented freshman. One of those QBs should be good enough to get Bama where they want to go.
Bottom line: DeBoer can’t afford a repeat of 2024. Missing the College Football Playoff two years in a row just won’t cut it. That kind of result could put him on the hot seat going into 2026.
Now, no one’s saying he has to win a national title next year—but making the 12-team Playoff is basically non-negotiable. That might be a tall order for other programs, but not for Alabama.
DeBoer knows the pressure that comes with this job, and if he didn’t before, he sure does now—especially after that embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt. That was a wake-up call.