What Alabama fans want more from Crimson Tide in year three under Kalen DeBoer?

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If there is one thing Alabama football fans are frustrated with, it is how much the attention has moved away from the Crimson Tide in elite conversations.

Kalen DeBoer has done good things in his first two seasons as head coach at the University of Alabama, yet the Tide faithful crave more. He became the first coach to win nine games in his first season in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) – notching a 9-4 campaign in 2024 – and made the College Football Playoff last season, but the program has lacked a consistent identity under him.

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DeBoer (20-8) has a slightly better record than Nick Saban (19-8) after two years, but no one questioned Saban’s love or commitment to the craft. DeBoer is a good coach; nevertheless, supporters want him to prove he’s the guy that can put Alabama back in the dialogue of “cream of the crop” teams in this NIL and transfer portal era of college football.

Three things need to happen for Tide nation to believe in DeBoer for 2026 and beyond and all are below.

1. Ryan Grubb has to develop an identity on offense

Ryan Grubb only lasted one season (2024) in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, and that was for a reason.

He failed to consistently establish a rushing attack, which caused the Seahawks to have no balance.

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Seattle got rid of him and a year later became Super Bowl Champions. Alabama had no threat of run game in 2025 and it led to everything being on Ty Simpson’s shoulders at quarterback. Simpson got beat up in the second half of the season and the Crimson Tide were utterly embarrassed by Indiana at the Rose Bowl in round two of the CFP.

He found a way to have balance in Washington with the Huskies, but Grubb has to bring that to Alabama if he wants to be successful. Whether he wants a run-first or pass-first offense, the Tide must have a consistent look.

Grubb has to be a better play-caller in terms of creating an identity.

2. Alabama must be stronger on both lines of scrimmage

David Ballou plays a role in this as Alabama’s head strength coach and sports science guru, but the team has to get stronger on both lines of scrimmage. Alabama got pushed around a lot in 2025, especially in its defeats versus Indiana, Georgia (SEC Championship Game), Oklahoma (regular season), and Florida State (2025 season opener).

It was not the aggressor, which led to the Crimson Tide playing from behind in most of those meetings. The teams that were champions in Tuscaloosa knew the importance of winning the trench warfare.

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Alabama has to get back to bullying opposition up front if it wants hardware.

3. Players and coaches need to care about winning at a high level

This one is simply about overall desire. 

Players and coaches on this team have to love winning at the highest level.

Does losing piss you off in a way that you don’t want to have that feeling ever again? That is what coaches and players felt like in the Saban era. They hated losing so much that it was used as fuel in the seasons following the Tide not winning a national championship. Alabama literally beat opponents up mentally and physically in years after not capturing a title under Saban.

Does DeBoer and his staff have that kind of killer instinct?

This fall will show us if it is real or not. As much as players care about NIL, they need to care about building a legacy even more.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.