The honeymoon is officially over for Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa.
The man tasked with succeeding the titan of college football—Nick Saban—is now feeling the burn of the Alabama spotlight. And with one eyebrow-raising quarterback decision, that heat is rapidly intensifying. After a rocky 9-4 debut season and a quarterback room still searching for its alpha, ESPN and On3 analysts are beginning to ask the question no Crimson Tide fan wants to hear:
Is Kalen DeBoer built for Bama—or about to buckle under it?
A Powerhouse in Peril?
Taking over for the legendary Nick Saban was always going to be an impossible act to follow. But this isn’t just any program—this is Alabama, where national titles are the minimum standard and second place feels like rock bottom. DeBoer’s 2024 season started with promise and marquee clashes against Michigan, Oklahoma, and Georgia. But the final product? A deflating 9-4 record that left fans wondering if the dynasty had quietly died in its sleep.
As ESPN’s Aaron Murray candidly put it:
“He was thrown into the fire… but now we’re wondering if he can even survive the heat.”
Ty Simpson and the QB Quandary
Perhaps the most controversial move thus far under DeBoer’s reign? Placing the offense in the hands of Ty Simpson—a quarterback whose talent has never quite lived up to the hype. The decision has drawn considerable skepticism, with analysts questioning whether Simpson has the consistency, vision, and poise to thrive in the crucible that is SEC play.
On3’s J.D. PicKell didn’t mince words:
“I don’t know if I see enough elite playmakers… or a system explosive enough to dominate. This isn’t the Alabama we’re used to.”
And with playoff expansion still looming a year away, Alabama’s margin for error is razor-thin in 2025. Another three-loss season? That could spell disaster—and open the door to a shocking coaching shake-up.
Culture War in the Crimson Kingdom
Despite the turbulence, DeBoer has engineered one quiet but crucial win: stability. Unlike last year’s mass exodus, Alabama didn’t lose a single scholarship player to the transfer portal this spring—an almost unheard-of feat in today’s chaotic CFB landscape.
Star cornerback Zabien Brown noted a major culture shift:
“This year? The energy was different. DeBoer challenged us. He said, ‘Show me. Prove it.’ And that’s what we’re doing.”
But good vibes won’t win SEC titles. Execution will.
Storms Ahead
DeBoer’s path in 2025 is a veritable gauntlet. Florida State. Wisconsin. South Carolina. And the SEC’s reigning monsters—Georgia, locked and loaded with dynamic wideouts like Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch, waiting to pounce on September 27.
If sophomore QB Gunner Stockton takes the next step for the Dawgs, it could turn into a nationally televised embarrassment for DeBoer—an ominous “Welcome to the SEC” that echoes far beyond Athens.
Make-or-Break Season
Kalen DeBoer is not just coaching for pride—he’s coaching for legacy. He’s coaching to prove he belongs in the house Nick Saban built. But right now? Even Saban himself is staying on the sidelines, reportedly saying he still doesn’t know what to expect from this version of Alabama.
If DeBoer can’t find offensive lightning and lead the Tide back to prominence, the calls for a new era may come faster than anyone expected. In Tuscaloosa, “rebuild” is a four-letter word.
And time, as always at Alabama, is running out.
