Does Kalen DeBoer want to keep the SEC Championship game intact?

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer watches in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a 28-7 loss during the 2025 SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. 

The Tide were plagued by injuries entering the matchup, and Alabama ultimately struggled on both sides of the football against Georgia. Alabama will more than likely be a favorite to play in the contest once again this season, but the Tide will undoubtedly need to play at a higher level should they qualify. 

Head coach Kalen DeBoer was recently asked for his thoughts on conference championship games as a whole, as DeBoer believes they are an excellent addition to the postseason. 

“Every situation is different.” DeBoer said. “For us and the moment we were in, and I think Georgia was in the same situation as well, just the grind of the season. Maybe a position group or two that has been hit with the injury bug, and just how that can impact you. I understand they went through the same grind we had and they had some injuries as well, but I think the conference championship is a great thing. I know I wanted to win it really bad, we sold out to it the best we could. We had to adjust a little bit that week with who we had available to us, but again it was something we really wanted to win. It would be unfortunate to not have it moving forward, but understanding the landscape of what we are in, you look at playoffs and there’s only so many weeks to play these games.” 

Conference championships have been a major topic of discussion throughout the college football world recently. Some people believe the game is an essential component to the season, while others feel it just risks potential injury. 

DeBoer and the Tide will look to shine during SEC play this season in order to return to the conference championship game. Both Alabama and Georgia may emerge for a potential rematch, but DeBoer appears to be a fan of the championship game as a whole nonetheless.