Michigan has been searching for a new head coach since firing Sherrone Moore after his scandal broke, and they have set their eyes on Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. There is just one problem – DeBoer seems to be keeping his job at Tuscaloosa for now, especially after the Crimson Tide made it to the second round of the College Football Playoffs.
Many at Michigan were hoping that Alabama would lose to Oklahoma again and the school would fire DeBoer. However, that did not happen, as the Crimson Tide are heading to the Rose Bowl to face Indiana on New Year’s Day. Despite Michigan possibly losing hope of getting the Alabama coach as their new head coach, ESPN’s Rece Davis believes the Wolverines still have the chance if they play their cards right.
“From Michigan’s standpoint, if that’s the guy you want, wait,” the analyst said during the College GameDay Podcast.
“If it takes waiting until they finish, if they were to upset Indiana, wait if that’s the guy you want. Why settle? One portal class, one recruiting class is not worth settling for a program like Michigan. Now, I understand the concept that there’s no guarantee you’re going to get him. I get that. But if you are convicted that this is your guy, wait it out. See what happens, push forward.”
For now, Davis urges Michigan to wait and be patient, especially as DeBoer, whose eight-year deal with Alabama is worth $87 million, may be sticking with his current team as of the moment. In addition, Davis admitted that DeBoer might not be leaving Tuscaloosa in the offseason either, so his advice for now is stick to what they currently have and go for their current transfer portal targets and high school recruits.
Many Predicted Kalen DeBoer Would Have Accepted Michigan Job If Alabama Fired Him
Many felt that Kalen DeBoer was about to get the axe after losing the SEC title game and closing the regular season at 10-3. With the sudden firing of Sherrone Moore, many believed he would have been the one to take the job after getting axed. That did not happen, of course, but before that, many analysts like Michael Wilbon were already thinking it would.
Michael Wilbon seems pretty convinced Kalen DeBoer is headed to Ann Arbor 😳
“The coach at Alabama is going to have a job-on-the-line situation in 24 hours, and then headed to Michigan once he loses. And then Alabama’s looking. Then what are you going to say?” pic.twitter.com/2Gh9NjKmj9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 18, 2025
Wilbon noted that he was confident Alabama would lose to Oklahoma, and believed that many would want to see DeBoer fired after that, and should that happen, Michigan would come in and scoop him up.
Related:
Bryce Underwood Transfer Portal Update: Top 3 Destinations for Michigan’s Five-Star Freshman
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