Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been one of the most scrutinized coaches in the country since he succeeded Nick Saban in January 2024. After a promising start to the 2025 season and despite an SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff appearance, DeBoer is entering a high-pressure 2026 campaign.
The Crimson Tide was defeated by the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, 28-7, and was later dominated 38-3 by the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal), darkening the mood in Tuscaloosa ahead of DeBoer’s third season.
Analyst Josh Pate Details Kalen DeBoer’s Outlook After Ty Simpson’s Departure
During a segment of the “Josh Pate College Football Show,” analyst Josh Pate spoke about the outside perception of DeBoer’s pressurized third season after losing Ty Simpson to the NFL Draft.
“With the way last year ended, they couldn’t run the ball and possibly a first-round pick quarterback departure and you’re gonna have a new QB start, there’s gonna be a lot of nervousness,” Pate said. “If you finish subpar this year, hot seat talk ramps up… but that guy [DeBoer] doesn’t exhibit those characteristics.
“He was never really impacted by the taking over for Saban thing. He’s very laidback and unaffected by outside noises. It’s not a mystery to them, ‘Boy, we struggled to run the ball last year.’ It’s fully DeBoer’s team, it’s his program.”
Unlike other top teams, DeBoer opted not to pursue a veteran quarterback via the transfer portal and instead relied on existing options. The battle to be the Crimson Tide’s QB1 is between redshirt junior Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from the Washington Huskies, and sophomore Keelon Russell.
During an appearance on the “Next Round” podcast this week, DeBoer detailed the intensity of the quarterback battle between Mack and Russell.
“It’s two guys that have high ceilings, and they’ve done a really good job for the most part all spring long,” DeBoer outlined. “I know I referred to, I think, in the scrimmage, it was not as sharp as they’ve been. Well, it’s because they’ve been very, very sharp all spring long.”
Alongside the quarterback transition, DeBoer must address an anemic running game. In 2025, the Crimson Tide averaged 104.1 rushing yards per game (the second-lowest in the SEC), just ahead of the LSU Tigers’ 104.0 yards per game.
As a result, the Crimson Tide earned a PFSN College Offense Impact score of 81.7, the eighth-best in the SEC, making it a critical area of focus for the 2026 season.
