The Alabama football standard was clear in the Nick Saban era. A year after Saban retired, how does it look under Kalen DeBoer?

Alabama football added a walk-on tight end in his final season of collegiate eligibility, one who expected to make an impact upon arrival.

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer and his former right-hand man at Washington, Ryan Grubb, could reunite in Tuscaloosa. It'll just be a bit awkward given how Grubb left the Crimson Tide last year.

Grubb spent his entire career as a college assistant before coming to the Seahawks, and his most notable run included time at Fresno State and Washington under Kalen DeBoer. With DeBoer now the head coach at Alabama, fans quickly made the call for the Crimson Tide head coach to bring Grubb over to Tuscaloosa.

Calling for DeBoer to get fired after a 9-4 season in year one is simply irrational. Even for a fan base that’s used to being in the College Football Playoff like Alabama. Winning is hard and the way college football is now only makes it harder.

Jalen Milroe and Tyler Booker are confident in the direction the program is heading under the leadership of DeBoer.

Washington improved. It won 14 games in 2023, beating Texas again in the College Football Playoff in the Sugar Bowl before losing to Michigan in the CFP national championship game. Days later, DeBoer was named as Nick Saban's successor with Alabama football.

When the close struck 0:00 at Raymond James Stadium on New Year's Eve, not only did it mark the end of the ReliaQuest Bowl

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer isn't on the "hot seat" entering the 2025 college football season, though that could quickly change if things trend south in Tuscaloosa next fall. DeBoer had a fairly decent debut season at Alabama by most standards.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer stands to lose a lot if the Crimson Tide were to miss the College Football Playoff again in 2025.