The pressure is on in Tuscaloosa, and it’s not going away quietly. Alabama fans spent years with Nick Saban setting the standard, but now, 14 games into Kalen DeBoer’s run as head coach, everyone’s asking: How long can the Crimson Tide live with this new brand of inconsistency?
No matter the star power on the field, the biggest story around the program isn’t a five-star recruit or a last-second field goal. It’s the future of DeBoer himself– and what happens if the school decides to pay the $63 million price tag to send him packing.
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Kalen DeBoer took the job in January 2024, signing one of college football’s most lucrative contracts to replace Saban. But after just 14 games, the seat is getting hot– and fast.
After a 31–17 loss to Florida State in Week 1, Alabama has dropped three of its last four games, with five total losses under DeBoer. For a program that built its reputation on dominance and discipline, the inconsistencies have everyone uneasy, from rowdy fans to powerful boosters.
One prominent donor, whose portrait hangs in the Donor Hall of Recognition at Bryant-Denny Stadium, captured the feeling:
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“We’re spoiled, always have been. But when we put a team out there that looks uninspired, like we have far too many times these past two years, and lose to teams we’re clearly more talented than, that’s when it becomes a problem… And it’s not just a bunch of spoiled fans griping.”
DeBoer came to town after a strong run at Washington, where he went 25–3, grabbed a Pac-12 championship, and brought the Huskies to a national title game. However, success hasn’t followed him to the SEC so far.
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His contract, put together by super-agent Jimmy Sexton, is full of performance bonuses for conference titles and College Football Playoff runs. None of those marks were met during his first year. Alabama started 4–0, then stumbled with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
The Crimson Tide wrapped up 2024-25 at 9–3, missed the 12-team CFP, and dropped the ReliaQuest Bowl against an injury-depleted Michigan squad.
Now, heading into year two, DeBoer could face a massive buyout if things keep going south. If Alabama fires him “without cause,” the contract says he gets 90% of his remaining salary in monthly payments for the rest of the deal.
Currently, DeBoer is eight months into the second year. If Alabama makes a move during the regular season, they owe him about $63 million, or 90% of what’s left. If they hold off until Dec. 1, 2025, the payout drops to around $60 million, per contract details available here.
What Does Alabama’s 2025 Schedule Mean for DeBoer’s Future?
Alabama brought in a strong 2025 recruiting class, including three five-star prospects and quarterback Keelon Russell. DeBoer picked veteran Ty Simpson to start over Russell and Austin Mack, but the team’s flat showing against Florida State just turned up the temperature.
Next, the Crimson Tide faces ULM at home, a tough home matchup with Wisconsin, and a road trip to Georgia. With SEC battles against Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee, and South Carolina, October doesn’t get any easier.
If Alabama doesn’t find its footing soon, the program could be staring down a $63 million decision much sooner than anyone imagined.
