Unpacking DeBoer's early impact, key portal decisions, and emerging stars. Plus, hear about Alabama's broader athletic resurgence.
This week’s episode of the Alabama Roundtable Podcast was one of those conversations every Alabama fan needs right now, the kind that brings perspective, calms the panic, and reminds people what this program has always been built on.
Alabama Roundtable podcast hosts Hannah Stephens and Brandon Gibson tackled some of the hottest and also some of the biggest topics hovering over Tuscaloosa right now: Kalen DeBoer and the reality that some Alabama fans are still struggling to fully trust the process.
And honestly?
That’s where this episode hit the hardest.
Because, while it’s easy to overreact to every headline, every portal entry, and every rumor, DeBoer is doing exactly what great coaches do...building his version of Alabama football while carrying the weight of following the greatest to ever do it.
And Stephens and Gibson broke that down, and how Saban's and DeBoer's entry into Tuscaloosa was completely different in many ways.
Of course, the conversation couldn’t happen without diving into the transfer portal, and the chaos it brings every offseason. This episode broke down the difference between who left… and who stayed. Because that part matters. The portal will always be loud, but the players who choose to remain in Tuscaloosa, the ones who keep working, keep developing, and keep buying in are the ones who often become the next stars.
Stephens and Gibson also highlighted players to watch next season, the kind of names Tide fans should circle right now. The guys who might not be national headlines yet, but have the talent, opportunity, and hunger to shine when the lights come on. Alabama always reloads, but the next wave is already here.
And it wasn’t just football.
The podcast also touched on the momentum building across Alabama athletics, including men’s and women’s basketball, plus gymnastics and other programs that are giving fans plenty to cheer for right now.
Bottom line: this episode wasn’t about sugarcoating anything, it was about truth. Alabama is in a new era, but the standard hasn’t changed. And if you’re willing to breathe, trust, and let it unfold… you might just witness something special.
Roll Tide.