The 2024 college football season ushered in significant changes for several programs, with new conferences and coaching staffs reshaping the landscape. The most notable shift came from Tuscaloosa, where legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban stepped down after 17 illustrious seasons, capping off his career following the 2023 campaign. Saban’s successor, Kalen DeBoer, arrived with high expectations after guiding the Washington Huskies to the national championship game.
DeBoer’s first year with Alabama proved to be a transitional one. The Crimson Tide finished 9-4, their worst record since Saban’s debut season in 2007. Despite the struggles, the Tide demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level with notable wins over top-tier opponents, including the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (11-3), the No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-4), and the No
While Alabama’s 2024 season included some impressive victories, three concerning losses left the fan base divided and raised questions about the program’s trajectory under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide suffered defeats against teams with five or more losses, starting with an early-season stumble against the Vanderbilt Commodores (7-6). This loss tested the patience of Alabama fans, though SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum noted that DeBoer began to regain their trust afterward.
“I felt like he got off to a very good start,” Finebaum said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “He tended to turn people off after the Vanderbilt game. I felt like he was bringing them back; the LSU game was monstrous. Then I felt like he threw it all away again in the Oklahoma game. Then, not winning the bowl game really resonated.”
The Oklahoma game, in particular, was a low point. Facing the Sooners (6-7), Alabama was dominated in a 24-3 defeat. Oklahoma outgained Alabama in total yardage, 325 to 234, and forced three turnovers, extinguishing the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes. The season ended on another sour note with a loss to the Michigan Wolverines (8-5) in the ReliaQuest Bowl. After falling behind 16-0, Alabama rallied but ultimately lost 19-13, with three more turnovers proving costly.
Despite a bounce-back victory over rival Auburn (5-7), Finebaum believes these losses, particularly to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Michigan, have eroded confidence in DeBoer. “Those losses really resonated with fans,” Finebaum said, emphasizing that 2025 will be a pivotal season for DeBoer as he works to solidify his standing and restore faith in the program.
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