Things were expected to improve for Kalen DeBoer in his second season with the Alabama Crimson Tide after taking over from legendary college football coach Nick Saban, but the 2025 season opener was anything but that.
The No. 8 Crimson Tide faced the Florida State Seminoles, and the results went to the unranked team. Mike Norvell’s team defeated DeBoer not just by any margin but by a 31-17 victory, marking a blowout loss. This pushes DeBoer on the hot seat just as fast, and fans want to know what it will take for the Alabama administration to send him packing if push comes to shove.
How Much Would It Cost Alabama To Fire HC Kalen DeBoer?
Should Alabama decide to part ways with Kalen DeBoer at any point this season, they’ll have to shed a big paycheck. According to Saturday Down South, DeBoer’s buyout at Alabama stands at $70 million, which is among the largest in the FBS.
According to CBS Sports, if DeBoer gets fired “without cause” during the regular season, it would cost about $63 million, which is 90% of his total contract. However, if Alabama waits until December 1 to fire the head coach, that amount drops down to $60 million.
Here’s the buyout breakdown provided by SportsCasting based on the timeline of firing:
Fired in 2024: $78.3 million
Fired in 2025: $69.3 million
Fired in 2026: $60.08 million
… down to around $10.58 million by 2031.
Thus, Alabama is in a precarious state if it wants to fire DeBoer. For both the coach and the program, the best thing will be to turn this season around despite a loss in the season opener on the road.
Kalen DeBoer After Losing Season Opener to FSU
Alabama had a nightmarish start to its 2025 season. The high-profile program didn’t make the playoffs last year, and losing against an unranked opponent won’t help their AP rankings.
In the press conference, DeBoer criticized his defense, saying they became “a little hesitant” against FSU’s dynamic offense.
“We gave them hope and confidence,” DeBoer said. “I choose to believe we’ve got a good football team, but we can’t play on our heels… There’s no excuse for what happened… Last year isn’t this year… It’s going to be an uphill climb for us.”
The Seminoles scored a touchdown in each quarter, while Alabama could only reach the end zone two times in the entire game. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson completed 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
Also Read: Alabama Football 2025 Schedule: 5 Games Kalen DeBoer Could Lose in Upcoming CFB Season
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