ESPN published a new roundtable on Friday discussing the coaches and players with the “most to prove” going into 2024.

New Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was amongst 6 coaches listed in the story. DeBoer, of course, is taking over for legendary coach Nick Saban. Despite the coaching turnover, the Crimson Tide have College Football Playoff aspirations for next season.

The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams next season certainly plays a part in the Year 1 expectations for DeBoer in Tuscaloosa, writes ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg:

DeBoer just took Washington to the national title game in only his second year — two seasons after the team went 4-8 — so this designation feels a bit unfair, but so are Alabama’s expectations after Nick Saban’s historic tenure. If the College Football Playoff remained at four teams, DeBoer could miss them during a transition year and be given somewhat of a pass. But Alabama expects to be part of the 12-team field every year, and if DeBoer falls short, the pressure and comparisons to Saban will reach nauseating levels in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama been a consensus top-12 team for most of the past two decades. The last time the Crimson Tide finished the year outside of the top-12 in the AP Top 25 was 2007 — Saban’s first season at the helm.

Alabama is set to bring in several newcomers via the transfer portal as well as a loaded 2024 recruiting class for next season. Alabama’s regular season win total for 2024 has been set at 9.5.

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