Paul Finebaum says Kalen DeBoer doesn’t have the ‘right ingredients’ to win title at Alabama
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Count Paul Finebaum as a Kalen DeBoer doubter.
Finebaum has long been skeptical of DeBoer, particularly levying criticism after high-profile losses to Vanderbilt in 2024 and Indiana in 2025, among other. With DeBoer’s 3rd season in Tuscaloosa on the horizon, Finebaum says he doesn’t believe the former Washington coach will ever win a National Championship at Alabama.
“Alabama is unique. Really, in the last 60 years, only 3 people have won National Championships at Alabama,” Finebaum said during an appearance on Crain & Cone this week. “Two of them happened to be the greatest coach of all time on the day they retired … I think at Alabama, you can be unique, you can be different. But Kalen DeBoer, to me, just doesn’t have the right ingredients to win the title there.
“I think he’s capable of winning it elsewhere. We all saw he came within a reasonable chance of winning it at Washington. I think he probably would have won one at Michigan. Alabama is different.”
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DeBoer and Alabama took a solid step forward in 2025, reaching the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship Game. However, the Crimson Tide were out-classed by Georgia and Indiana in their final losses of the season. They also suffered an embarrassing early-season loss to Florida State last year.
Looking ahead to 2026, DeBoer will preside over a quarterback battle during fall camp between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack. Alabama will be hoping for much better production from its offensive line and defense this fall as well.
Alabama will open the 2026 campaign against East Carolina on Sept. 5.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
