Kalen DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa wasn’t the debut fans dreamed of. A program that once dominated the SEC under Nick Saban finished 9-4. That Vanderbilt loss clings on like a haunting ghost, along with a missed SEC Championship as they strayed away from the 12-team CFP. People are even wondering if the Bama GOAT’s departure is setting the foundation for more challenges for DeBoer. So when the SEC Championship odds for the 2025 season were released, eyebrows were raised. 

J.D. Pickell was skeptical when FanDuel Sportsbook released their early 2025 SEC Championship odds that have the Crimson Tide tied with Tennessee at No. 3 with +700 odds. In a new On3 episode on February 14, Pickell bluntly stated, “[Alabama] being third to win the SEC in a year where Kalen DeBoer is a season removed from losing four football games, which is like unheard of in Tuscaloosa. This is a classic ‘what does Vegas know’ situation for me… Like we don’t know who the quarterback’s going to be. I think that the offense will be more Kalen DeBoer-ish but we don’t know for a fact.”

For the first time since 2007, Alabama finished the season with less than 10 wins as they fell 9-4. After a disappointing season, they’re also set to lose some of their top playmakers to the NFL draft, including QB Jalen Milroe and S Malachi Moore. This is more reason for doubts to loom. Bama’s 2025 QB room is talented but unproven—Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. But while inexperience is a demotivating factor, DeBoer could be bringing his own style into the game this upcoming season. 

This step began with the hiring of Seattle Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb, who arrived in Tuscaloosa for the same role. The connection is there. He was Kalen DeBoer’s OC during his two successful seasons at Washington State. That’s not all. They also worked together at Fresno State and Sioux Falls. Could this hire have a chance to change the game for Alabama in 2025?

Still, it’s not enough to convince Pickell, who added—“Alabama at +700 feels just a little bit tricky to me so we’ll just keep a pulse on that. +700 is just very curious to me.” Some are also speculating that DeBoer’s challenge isn’t just about rebuilding the roster and staff—it’s about escaping Saban’s shadows. And maybe, just maybe, the GOAT isn’t making it easy. 

Nick Saban’s potential motive for Kalen DeBoer in Alabama

Could Nick Saban be setting up roadblocks for Kalen DeBoer to protect his legacy? It’s not even easy to entertain the thought given how much of a respectable figure the 73-year-old current ESPN College GameDay analyst is both on and off the field. And with his unexpected retirement last January, he leaves Tuscaloosa as one of the best to ever lead this SEC powerhouse with six National Championships from 2009-2020.

So this legacy, plus the fact he’s still on Alabama’s payroll as an advisor, has fueled speculation after Georgia Senator Brandon Beach revealed Saban was behind the idea to exempt in-state Georgia schools from NIL taxes—a move that would directly benefit Kirby Smart.

Cousin Shane couldn’t have voiced his thoughts more clearly on That SEC Football Podcast saying, “He wants to be identified as the best, the greatest college football coach in history. And we knew when he left Alabama, he was going to leave as the best football coach ever, but I also felt like he was going to make it tougher for the next chapter so that he’s not dethroned.” A legit speculation, but is there any truth to it? 

Texas and Georgia remain the SEC’s top dogs to win the conference championship game. But the odds still leave room for Kalen DeBoer to make a comeback. Still, the pressure is on—he doesn’t just need a mere bounce back; he needs to make a statement.