Alabama Crimson Tide Approaches Second Season Under Kalen DeBoer With Nick Saban’s Backing And Fans Expecting A Major Resurgence Ahead
The countdown to the second season of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa is now down to just two weeks, and with every passing day, the spotlight grows even brighter on the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach. After a debut campaign that ended with four losses, a number that Alabama fans consider unacceptable in the modern age of Crimson Tide football, DeBoer enters year two with both pressure and opportunity colliding at once. The program remains one of the crown jewels of college football, but with Nick Saban retired and watching from the sidelines, the challenge is clear: restore Alabama to the level of dominance that defined the Saban dynasty. And interestingly, it is Saban himself who believes that DeBoer may just be on the verge of accomplishing that mission.
DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa was never going to be easy. He inherited a program in transition, one that had seen both roster and staff upheaval following Saban’s retirement. The hallmarks of stability that had defined Alabama for over a decade were suddenly gone. Recruiting took an unexpected hit as some prospects decommitted or looked elsewhere. Established players with ties to Saban and his staff entered the transfer portal. The machine that once looked unbreakable wobbled under the weight of sweeping change. Still, through all of that, DeBoer’s team managed to show flashes of potential. Alabama didn’t fully collapse, but the four-loss season highlighted the growing pains that often accompany a seismic coaching change at a powerhouse program.
For DeBoer, the path forward begins with the offense. The Tide’s second-year head coach has entrusted longtime offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who followed him from Washington, to reshape the unit. Grubb’s system, which shined on the West Coast, is built on explosive passing concepts, tempo, and precision. Alabama fans expect that same kind of production, but they also expect results that lead to championships, not moral victories. The pairing of DeBoer and Grubb will be under heavy scrutiny, and the margin for error in Tuscaloosa is microscopic.
Still, according to Nick Saban, DeBoer might be closer to getting it right than many realize. Speaking at the annual Nick Saban Legacy Awards this week, the legendary coach made it clear that he sees progress being made. “I think [DeBoer] is doing a great job,” Saban said. “I think there was so much in the transition. Last year, it was very, very difficult. A lot of players left when we retired, which I hated to see. The coaching changes, the staff changes. Players really relate to people in the organization, so when you change a lot of those people, it’s a big change for the players.”
Those words carry significant weight, not only because Saban is arguably the greatest coach in college football history, but because his understanding of Alabama’s inner workings remains unmatched. His acknowledgment of the difficulty of last season puts into perspective just how steep the climb was for DeBoer. Transition seasons often reveal vulnerabilities, and Saban himself noted how much turnover the program endured when he stepped away. That kind of disruption impacts recruiting, player development, and even locker room cohesion.
Yet what stands out most from Saban’s comments is his optimism for the upcoming year. “I think the team this year is much more grounded in terms of what Coach DeBoer really wants,” Saban said. “He’s been great with me. He comes and sees me. We talk all the time. He’s always invited me to come to practice. I’ve tried to keep my distance because I don’t want to meddle in what he’s trying to do. I think they have the right staff, I think they have the right people and I think you’ll see a big improvement in Alabama’s team this year.”
That endorsement is exactly what DeBoer needs at this juncture. For Alabama fans, hearing Saban’s confidence in the program’s direction should temper some of the anxiety about the state of the Tide. It also underscores an unusual dynamic in college football: the greatest coach of all time is not only still present around the program but actively conversing with his successor. While some might expect awkwardness or tension, the relationship between Saban and DeBoer seems marked by mutual respect and open communication.
That bridge between past and present could prove vital. Alabama is not a program that tolerates mediocrity or even “good but not great.” The Crimson Tide standard is championships, plain and simple. But with Saban offering support and DeBoer pushing his vision, there’s a chance for a smoother evolution than many programs face when replacing a legend.
Still, optimism alone will not win football games. DeBoer knows this. The 2025 season will be judged by execution, development, and results on the field. Quarterback play will be key, as will the ability of Grubb’s offense to transition from the Pac-12 to the unforgiving grind of the SEC. Defensively, Alabama will be tested week in and week out by powerful rivals. The new-look staff must prove it can recruit at an elite level while also maintaining player development, an area in which Saban’s Alabama teams always excelled.
The schedule won’t do DeBoer many favors. Every SEC season is a gauntlet, but this year brings added pressure with heightened expectations and little patience from the fan base. Another four-loss season could ignite unrest, while a return to the College Football Playoff conversation would cement DeBoer’s place as the rightful heir to the Alabama throne.
Off the field, the storylines will be equally fascinating. Nick Saban is set to begin his second year on the College GameDay desk, a transition that keeps him front and center in the college football conversation. His presence every Saturday will inevitably shine a light back on Tuscaloosa, whether he intends it or not. The juxtaposition of Alabama’s present with DeBoer and its recent past with Saban will create a running narrative throughout the season. Fans and analysts alike will compare and contrast, questioning whether the new regime can match the old standard.
Yet for all the comparisons, this is ultimately DeBoer’s team now. He cannot be Saban, nor should he try to be. What he can do, however, is build on the foundation left behind while adding his own stamp. His offensive vision, his coaching hires, and his ability to rally the locker room will define this chapter of Alabama football.
The next two weeks will be about fine-tuning, finalizing lineups, and preparing mentally for what lies ahead. Once the season begins, there will be no hiding. Every game, every drive, every play will be dissected in the Alabama football ecosystem. For DeBoer, the only acceptable outcome is forward progress, measurable improvement, and, ideally, contention for championships.
As Nick Saban said, the foundation appears stronger now than it was a year ago. The chaos of transition has given way to stability, and the staff seems aligned with DeBoer’s philosophy. That doesn’t guarantee success, but it provides the kind of platform from which success can grow. For Alabama fans, hope remains alive that the DeBoer era may yet deliver the dominance they crave.
And so, as the Tide prepare to take the field in just two weeks, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. The challenge is monumental, the standard is unrelenting, and the eyes of the college football world will be fixed on Tuscaloosa. With Nick Saban watching, with Ryan Grubb leading the offense, and with the weight of a dynasty on his shoulders, Kalen DeBoer enters year two knowing this: the time to get it right is now.
