Imagine the weight of that: Kalen DeBoer’s first year, he couldn’t get Alabama—a program synonymous with national championships—into the playoffs. That’s gotta leave a mark. The committee can spin it however they want, but that sting’s going to linger. And let’s be real, when’s the last time Alabama lost four games and the “Roll Tide” chants weren’t echoing everywhere? The college football world is making its feelings pretty clear about this whole four-loss playoff debate.

We are all aware of how SMU managed to gain an advantage over Bama and secure a spot in the playoffs. Bama fans aren’t alone in feeling snubbed. Elite college football also thinks they got a bad deal. They included them on their list of all-time playoff snubs. Alabama (9-4) joined some other famous snubs like 2017 UCF (12-0) and 2014 TCU/Baylor (11-1). It serves as a bitter reminder that even the most prestigious programs cannot avoid inconsistency. But only if they consider it a real snub!

Well, it’s not like the committee had no evidence to consider. Alabama’s 5-3 SEC record stood out noticeably. Although the 9-4 record might have seemed impressive on paper, the losses to unranked Vanderbilt and Oklahoma painted a less-than-ideal picture. Sure, the Tide’s only ranked loss was to Tennessee, but it couldn’t mask the fact that they struggled against teams they should have easily defeated. A rare four-loss season left Bama fans with more questions than answers.

Meanwhile, SMU was creating something remarkable. Their only loss occurred early in the season against BYU, and the Mustangs emerged from their first ACC season with a flawless 8-0 conference record. You couldn’t ignore that dominance, especially when you look at their wins against ranked teams. The committee had no intention of overlooking a team that consistently proved its worth week after week.

However, for Kalen DeBoer, this had to hurt. It was his first year as head coach, and yet he couldn’t guide a team with Alabama’s reputation into the postseason. For a powerhouse like Alabama, a 9-4 season is undoubtedly a disappointment. But let’s be honest—Kalen DeBoer is working on something special. He’s a wizard, just like he was in Washington.

For now, people need to give him some leeway. DeBoer took over a program in disarray after Saban’s departure and the subsequent loss of players and talent. The 2024 season was rough, but it’s not the end of the world. As Josh Pate said, “Alabama’s gonna be alright.” If Bama turns things around in 2025 or 2026, don’t act surprised. This is just the warm-up, a necessary grind to reclaim the top spot. But if only fans can understand that.

Fans hitting Kalen DeBoer’s Bama with reality check

No matter how hard Kalen DeBoer and his team try, those 4 losses can’t be justified. Okay, losses to Vandy and Oklahoma are one thing. But the way they collapsed against Michigan in the bowl game? That’s a whole different level of concern. You can’t just overlook that. Now that’s exactly what this IG user is trying to say: “Oh, here we go again with the Bama merchants. They lost to two 6-6 teams and then lost again to a 7-5 team in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Please pack it up.” 

Look, it’s not like Kalen DeBoer is out there “crying” over this snub. Everyone in that program knows what went wrong—especially when it comes to the offensive line. Enter Michael Carroll and Jackson Lloyd. Even with a few bumps along the way, Alabama’s No. 2 recruiting class for 2025 speaks volumes about DeBoer’s ability to recruit and build.

Filling in for a legend like Nick Saban? Yeah, not exactly an easy gig. But timing is everything. Remember how Michigan won it all in 2023, then struggled the following season? These things happen. So when people are out here saying things like “BAMA? LMAO.”—well, maybe they shouldn’t be so quick to count Bama out.

Well, teams with 11 or 12 wins have been “snubbed” from the playoffs before. So the internet finds Alabama’s 9-win snub completely reasonable. And questions like “What the f–k is 2024 Bama doing on here?” and comments like “2025 Bama was engagement baiting” were bound to pop up.

Did Alabama drop some winnable games? Absolutely—just like Oklahoma. But let’s be real, even the best teams have off days. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan despite having a top-ranked defense and an elite roster. So what? They still walked away as national champs. Saban or not, title or not, Alabama stays in the headlines. And with this recruiting class? Next season might just have all the answers.