Nothing looks certain for Kalen DeBoer right now. He was already hanging by a thread after Alabama’s second conference loss to Tennessee. But that unexpected blowout loss to Oklahoma last Saturday is igniting the spark to call for his dismissal. The fact that they now have two upset defeats to SEC underdogs (Vanderbilt and Oklahoma) doesn’t help DeBoer’s case. But the toughest call is yet to come. 

The upcoming rivalry game could make or break Kalen DeBoer’s career in Tuscaloosa. “Coach DeBoer, welcome to the Iron Bowl,” Alabama beat writer Nick Kelly introduced the new Crimson Tide HC who is yet to face one of the biggest rivalry games in college football. But apparently, he’s filled in on it as he said, “The state. 365 days of the year. Ever since I’ve been here, I think I hear about it every day. So understand what it means… Do everything we can do to be successful on Saturday, find a way to win.”

The 2023 Iron Bowl will mark the 89th time the two inter-state rivals are meeting each other. Alabama leads the series with 50-37-1 and still holds the current winning streak of four games since 2020. If he can pull out a win, he’ll get a chance to redeem himself from the humiliating 24-3 defeat against the Sooners in the last game. If not, chances are likely that DeBoer could be forced to move on from Alabama.

Let’s also listen to what CBS Sports’ John Talty has to say about Kalen DeBoer’s performance in Alabama. He said, “Weird first season for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. Good: Beat Georgia, LSU. Bad: Lost 3 games, should miss playoff. Ugly: He’ll never have a more talented roster than this.” Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class was the top 2 in the nation under DeBoer’s first season. But now, their SEC Championship and playoff hopes have already evaporated with their three conference losses. So what’s next for DeBoer?

Will Kalen DeBoer get fired if Alabama loses the Iron Bowl?

Now that Alabama doesn’t really have any other reason aside from the necessity to win, this is what Kalen DeBoer said to pull the Crimson Tide together. He said, “We made that commitment not just towards each other, but that we’re going to finish. We’re going to finish everything we do.” But let’s not be too hard on DeBoer, whom Nick Saban views as an “outstanding choice to lead” Alabama. There’s a chance he can still make history and save his job if he wins against the Tigers. 

If Alabama wins against Auburn under Kalen DeBoer’s first season, he would make history as the first Crimson Tide HC to beat the Tigers in the Iron Bowl in the debut season after Dennins Franchione achieved that feat in 2001. Even the GOAT Saban fell 17-10 to Auburn in his first year in 2007. Even Alabama’s legacy coach Bear Bryant couldn’t accomplish that. This is why the outcome of the Iron Bowl is very crucial in deciding the future of Kalen DeBoer in Alabama.