Stephen A. Smith has a message for Kalen DeBoer: win at Alabama or walk away. The ESPN host used his platform on “First Take” this week to question whether the third-year coach can handle the standard set at Tuscaloosa, saying that DeBoer’s results so far don’t measure up to the job he accepted.
DeBoer inherited the Crimson Tide program ahead of the 2024 season, taking over from legendary Nick Saban after his retirement. Alabama enters 2026 with a modest preseason ranking. The Crimson Tide were placed No. 11 in the U.S. LBM Coaches Poll and sixth in the SEC media poll, their lowest in 18 years.
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Smith didn’t hold back when comparing the two coaching tenures.
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“It’s Alabama. If you don’t like it, get the hell out of town. It’s just that simple,” he said on Friday. “You’ve got to know what job you’re accepting.
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“If this was before Nick Saban arrived, there would be minimal, if any expectations at all. But when a man rolls up into town … wins six national championships, and his last five years at the school he lost as many games as you lost in your first two on the job, you’ve got a problem.”
Nick Saban went 60-8 over his last five seasons in Tuscaloosa, while DeBoer sits at 20-8 through two years, with four-loss campaigns in each.
Smith pointed to chances DeBoer had to leave before the criticism started. He referenced openings at Michigan and Penn State this past offseason, saying DeBoer should have pursued either job rather than staying at Alabama.
Alabama signed DeBoer to a seven-year extension in April worth $12.5 million annually, a deal Smith questioned. He also flagged concerns about the offensive line, quarterback room and running game heading into the season.
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Paul Finebaum lays out Kalen DeBoer’s hot-seat conditions
Veteran college football journalist Paul Finebaum, on a recent appearance on “Get Up,” outlined three things Kalen DeBoer must avoid to keep his job secure.
Finebaum said missing the College Football Playoff is the bare minimum DeBoer can’t afford, alongside repeating last season’s Rose Bowl collapse, a 38-3 loss to Indiana. That defeat was Alabama’s worst in more than two decades and the largest margin of loss in a bowl game in program history. A third four-loss season, Finebaum added, would be unacceptable.
Alabama opens the 2026 season at home against East Carolina on Sept. 5.
Edited by R. Elahi