At the end of each season, coaches take part in a panel where they submit a ballot ranking their top 25 teams. This year, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was among the participating coaches. His ballot, along with those of 52 other panel members, was made public on.
DeBoer ranked Alabama at No. 15 on his final ballot after leading the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 record in 2024. This marked Alabama’s first 9-win season since 2007. While some might view DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa as underwhelming, many coaches still considered Alabama a top-15 team, which isn’t a bad starting point for DeBoer and the program.
Notable coaches who also ranked Alabama in the top 15 include Texas A&M’s Mike Elko (No. 14), Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman (No. 12), Kansas’ Lance Leipold (No. 13), and Georgia’s Kirby Smart (No. 12). Middle Tennessee State’s Derek Mason gave Alabama its highest ranking, placing the team at No. 11 on his ballot.
Despite varying opinions, it’s clear Alabama has work to do. DeBoer and his coaching staff recognize the need for improvement, and it will be interesting to see how the Crimson Tide fare by the end of next season.