Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Florida State Seminoles in convincing fashion to begin the 2025 season on Aug. 30. This resulted in ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky expressing concern about the head coach’s future with the program.
Orlovsky appeared on ESPN’s Get Up show on Monday morning to discuss multiple sports topics, including the Crimson Tide’s loss. He felt the performance was far from what former coach Nick Saban would have put out on the field, questioning DeBoer’s chances of lasting by the end of the month.
“If Nick Saban watched this tape back yesterday, he would have kicked some of these kids off the team. That’s how bad it was… I think it’s fair to say, can Kalen DeBoer survive September?… they look like a shell of what Nick Saban had built them to become,” Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky was right to be critical of Alabama’s performance, losing to a Florida State squad that went 2-10 last year. Even though the Seminoles may have significantly improved from that disastrous campaign, it doesn’t give the Crimson Tide the excuse to lose the way they did to begin the 2025 season.
DeBoer took over the reins of the position after Saban announced his retirement from head coaching. He understood the responsibilities that came with the job, coming off a successful stint with the Washington Huskies. He led that program to a 25-3 record after just two seasons, including a finish as the runners-up in the 2023 national championship game.
DeBoer’s first season with the Crimson Tide showcased plenty of promise for the program as it transitioned away from Saban. They finished with a 9-4 overall record, going 5-3 in their conference matchups. The team was unable to end the year with a win, losing 19-13 to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
As a powerhouse in the SEC, expectations will always be high on Alabama to have a high standing in the conference. However, their loss to the Seminoles leaves a lot of room for improvement.
DeBoer has the skillset to help maintain Alabama’s quality as a national contender. The challenge for him will be to persevere against opponents who can match the quality of the Crimson Tide, putting them in potential danger of losses. If he can pull that off, he can secure his future at Alabama. If not, then he would be on the hot seat.
DeBoer and the No. 8 Crimson Tide will look to bounce back in their next matchup, which is at home. They host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Sept. 6 at 7:45 p.m. ET.
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