Overview

• On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith said Alabama looked “considerably softer” under Kalen DeBoer and suggested the Tide should consider Deion Sanders if 2025 mirrors last season.
• Al.com notes Alabama finished 9-4 in DeBoer’s first year with upset losses to Vanderbilt and South Carolina, missing the expanded College Football Playoff.
• Smith cited Sanders’ 2024 at Colorado as proof of potential, arguing his recruiting pull could flourish with Alabama’s resources.
• Paul Finebaum responded that talk of a coaching change would persist if DeBoer fails to deliver this season, framing the idea as contingent on results.
• Coverage highlights heavy fan pushback to Smith’s remarks and points to DeBoer’s 14-1 Washington résumé as context, with no credible indication Alabama is exploring a change.