Stephen A. Smith questions Kalen DeBoer's ability to succeed Nick Saban, citing Alabama's CFP collapse as a major concern for the Crimson Tide's future.
For a team that made the College Football Playoff in 2025, Alabama has oddly become a joke in the college football world this offseason.
On Monday, Joel Klatt said he thinks the program is on a downward trajectory.
Second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer made progress in his second year with the Crimson Tide, leading the program to an appearance in the SEC championship and winning a game on the road against Oklahoma in the first round of the CFP.
However, Alabama's disastrous performance in the CFP quarterfinal against Indiana has left a scare on DeBoer's program. The once-mighty Crimson Tide was walloped 38-3 in the Rose Bowl by Indiana, winning its first-ever CFP game.
During an appearance on "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Monday, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith argued that DeBoer doesn't stack up as a good successor to former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
“I'm not a fan of Kalen DeBoer," Smith said. As the successor to Nick Saban, I have no problem with him as a football coach. I'm fully aware of what he did in Washington... And I know that the man wins more than he loses.
"But when I think about Nick Saban, the man who I had the pleasure of getting to know, who flew me to Alabama on a couple of occasions to talk to the football team, to watch him in action, to watch what a standard bearer he was, and how he lived on accountability.”
Smith was concerned by the fight Alabama showed against Indiana in the CFP. At times, it looked like the Crimson Tide just quit playing a tougher Hoosiers opponent.
“Like for example, I have no doubt that Alabama may have lost to Indiana. Okay?" Smith said. "But there's no way in hell you can convince me that a Nick Saban team was gonna wave the white flag and just basically surrender...
"Because that's what it was. When they went up against Indiana losing 38-3. You're not gonna convince me that they're gonna get their butts whipped on opening day against Florida State.”
DeBoer is entering a critical third season at Alabama. While it might not be national championship or bust, the Crimson Tide can't be blown out like they were several times in 2025.