Kalen DeBoer has been linked to several programs over the last few weeks. Earlier this month, he denied having any interest in leaving Alabama for Penn State. Later, Michigan came into the picture and started another set of rumors.
But DeBoer isn’t worried about the outside noise as he has a bigger task at hand. Despite the initial doubts about his ability to do well with the Crimson Tide, he has led them to a 10-3 record, 7-1 in the conference, and they’re going to play the first playoff game tomorrow.
Tom Fornelli recently chimed in on the pressure that DeBoer is facing for the upcoming game against Oklahoma. As per Fornelli, many believed that the team with three losses shouldn’t even be in the playoffs, but they made it.
He said that DeBoer will be on the hot seat if Alabama loses to Oklahoma simply because of the high standard that the program and its fans have been used to. During the Nick Saban era, Alabama always competed for titles, but the expectations have changed under DeBoer.
“We’ve seen now in two years, DeBoer has lost three games in both of those seasons,” Fornelli said. “So, I believe him when he says he’s staying in Alabama and he’s not interested in the Michigan job. I think that whatever the result is on Friday night at Oklahoma, if Alabama loses to the Sooners to finish 9-4, he’s gonna go into 2026 on a hot seat.”
“If Alabama loses to the Sooners, [Kalen DeBoer] is going into 2026 on the hot seat.”@TomFornelli pic.twitter.com/3Y3l9qWCFe
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 18, 2025
Even if Alabama wins against Oklahoma and loses to Indiana in the second round or doesn’t win the national title, DeBoer will still be on the hot seat. It’s purely a result of the high standards that Saban had set for Alabama during his tenure.
Stephen A. Smith Wanted Alabama to Fire Kalen DeBoer
Despite his decades of experience in football, when DeBoer joined Alabama, he was stepping in to try to fill some big shoes. The Nick Saban era is widely regarded as one of the best stints by any program under a coach.
Stephen A. Smith was one of the naysayers against DeBoer from the very beginning of the season. After their rough start, he made it clear that DeBoer wasn’t going to be the one who would be able to live up to the standard.
“Who would’ve ever thought that somebody would have the audacity, the unmitigated goal to call out Nick Saban,” Smith said (11:09). “They would never. But they did it, why? Because Kalen DeBoer is coaching them…The days of Alabama with Nick Saban are gone.”
The next game against Oklahoma is going to be very important, not just for the program but also for DeBoer and his future. As of now, he has no intention of leaving the Crimson Tide for another program.
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