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,

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.

Year 1 of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama ended with a disappointing finish. After missing out on the first-ever, 12-team College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide lost to a Michigan team that had several top players opt out,