He has had an entertaining first year as head football coach for the University of Alabama, but Kalen DeBoer has the Crimson Tide’s program right where it needs to be.
Alabama controls its destiny for the 12-team College Football Playoff and an opportunity to play in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. DeBoer’s had good moments and some where he endured adversity, but he has the Tide ranked No. 7 in CFP and has a date with Oklahoma this weekend on the road. Alabama has played like one of the best teams in the nation since the Missouri game, especially on defense. The Tide has forced 15 takeaways since the South Carolina matchup and Jalen Milroe looked smooth offensively against LSU and Mercer. Aaron Murray, a University of Georgia alum, was on The Next Round show via WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham (Ala.) on Wednesday to detail the team he feels has the best chance to win a national championship if Georgia does not do it. Murray stated the Tide is playing its best football in the nation right now.
“When Jalen [Milroe] is on, he’s the most difficult player to control in all of College Football.” @aaronmurray11 pic.twitter.com/o4bPaIK0e1
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) November 21, 2024
“When Jalen [Milroe] is on, he is the most difficult player to control in all of college football,” Murray said.
“The defense has stepped their game up in the past month. So, that is another team that is playing well on defense. They are maturing on the back end. … Very young, but they are maturing. Then, all of a sudden on offense you have a quarterback that’s playing at a really high level. Obviously, Georgia does not win against Alabama.”
Murray has Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas as his favorites to win a national title, outside of Georgia. It has been tough for Kirby Smart to beat the Tide with or without Nick Saban. He is 1-6 in seven matchups versus Alabama since becoming the Bulldogs’ head coach in 2016. Smart’s lone victory came in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game (2021 season) against Saban.
Georgia earned a 33-18 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
We will see if Alabama winds up winning it all soon enough.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
