​Kalen DeBoer is entering his third season as Alabama’s head coach after succeeding the legendary Nick Saban in 2024. That move came with immense expectations, and Alabama reinforced its confidence in him by rewarding him with a seven-year extension in April. The deal runs through the 2032 season and pays him $12.5 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. So, was that commitment the right call? College football insider Bruce Feldman believes it absolutely was. He even contends that DeBoer has already established himself as a cut above both Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin as a head coach.
Speaking on The Next Round podcast, Feldman explained why he holds DeBoer in such high regard. “I think it’s probably better nationally than it is locally,” Feldman said. “Kalen DeBoer has done more than Steve Sarkisian, and he’s done more than Lane Kiffin.” Feldman noted that DeBoer inherited a four-win squad at Washington and quickly transformed it into a national contender, highlighting DeBoer’s success at Fresno State as well.
DeBoer coached Washington from 2022 through 2023 and earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in both seasons. He guided the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2023 after clinching the Pac-12 title, with Washington finishing that season at 14 wins—the program’s highest single-season total. That remarkable ascent became a major reason Alabama chose him to succeed Saban. “I think he’s a really, really good coach,” Feldman added. “If you compare his record against top teams, Sarkisian’s record against top teams, Lane’s record, they’re not even close to what Kalen DeBoer has accomplished.”
DeBoer’s résumé supports Feldman’s argument. Across six seasons combined at Fresno State, Washington, and Alabama, DeBoer has compiled a 20-6 record against Top 25 opponents. His 20 victories over ranked teams since 2021 rank second among active head coaches entering the 2026 season. Meanwhile, Sarkisian has helped Texas rise as a national contender, but his record against elite competition remains a challenge, and Kiffin has likewise posted a lower winning percentage against quality opponents than DeBoer. CBS Sports’ career-record-vs-AP-Top-25 project showed Sarkisian at 21-33 (.388) and Kiffin at 11-24 (.314) entering 2025.
With that context, the expectations for DeBoer going into the next season are enormous, and Alabama measures success differently than most programs. Fortunately for DeBoer, the Crimson Tide’s schedule affords him the opportunity to build momentum. There may not be a ranked opponent on the horizon until Georgia, which gives Alabama time to grow and develop as the season approaches.