Tuscaloosa residents continue to have high hopes. Despite losing famous head coach Nick Saban and starting over with a new coach, Alabama Crimson Tide fans expect at least nine victories in 2024.
Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy told the college football world what new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer needs to do in the coming season. He expressed his thoughts on his podcast, “Always College Football.”
“10-2, I think you’re in the playoffs, 9-3, you’re on the fringe and anything less than that, I think would be considered a disappointing year for Kalen DeBoer.”
The preceding belief emphasizes the pressure DeBoer confronts in his first season at Alabama. The pressure he will face stems from both his own coaching accomplishments and that of his predecessor.
In 2022, DeBoer took over a Washington Huskies team that finished 4-8 the previous season. In his debut season, DeBoer led the Huskies to an 11-2 record. The following season, Washington competed for a national championship.
Certainly, the coach is capable of repeating that accomplishment while joining a much harder Southeastern Conference. Outside of the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama still leads the league in talent acquisition.
One of the main stories of the 2024 season will be whether DeBoer is able to pull everything together at Alabama. The Tide opens with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on August 31.