MOBILE, Ala. — Kalen DeBoer knows Alabama football has to be better. Standing outside of Hancock Whitney Stadium for the 2025 Senior Bowl, the Alabama football coach harkened back to his expectation for the Crimson Tide when he first took the job: to perform at a championship level.

Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football’s head coach didn’t meet expectations. There’s plenty of places where a nine-win season and a bowl appearance would be cause for celebration under a new coach, but Tuscaloosa isn’t one of them, especially after Nick Saban’s tenure.

Kalen DeBoer's first season at the helm of the Alabama football program was one of incredibly high highs and extremely low lows. From a top-five victory against Georgia and a No. 1 overall ranking to unranked losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Michigan, the Crimson Tide faithful went through it in 2024.