Joel Klatt pinpoints must-win game for Kalen DeBoer’s 2nd season at Alabama
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Joel Klatt is gearing up for the 2025 season, and he understands the pressure mounting for Kalen DeBoer entering his 2nd season at Alabama.
Last season, DeBoer guided the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 finish, complete with a disappointing loss in bowl season. According to Klatt, that performance was admittedly “a little underwhelming” for a program such as Alabama coming off the long sustained success under Nick Saban.
“He’s at a place that is expected to win and not just win but win big at the highest level of college football,” said Klatt in his latest podcast episode. “They’re not going to sit around and wait for these 8-win and 9-win seasons.”
So, what does that mean for the season ahead? Klatt believes things have a chance to become “a little uncomfortable” if the Tide struggle yet again, and he circled the rivalry showdown vs. Tennessee as a must-win for Alabama.
Here’s how Klatt broke down the ins and outs of that matchup:
“I think that it could get a little uncomfortable for Kalen DeBoer. When you look at that schedule, Tennessee at home on Oct. 18. That’s the moment on the schedule,” predicted Klatt. “Home losses are not good, and then they would be starting really tough and in a schedule that is more back-loaded.
“If you’re losing to Tennessee, you probably lost to Georgia, which would be your 2nd loss in the SEC. Then you still have to go to South Carolina and host LSU… think about that for a moment now.”
In that scenario, Alabama would likely be in a “do-or-die” situation down the stretch of the regular season. Alabama found itself in a similar spot last year, ultimately landing outside the College Football Playoff picture after a horrific loss to Oklahoma.
This season, Alabama is back among the favorites in the 2025 SEC Championship odds, checking in at +380 via DraftKings. Only Texas, the preseason favorite, has better odds at +250, and fans can grab the latest odds through the best betting apps.
If the Tide fall short of competing for the conference title this fall, it will be tough for some fans to exercise patience with DeBoer’s time in Tuscaloosa.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
