Eras do come to an end, as someone said. But right now, the Alabama Crimson Tide is at crossroads—a true “where do we go from here?” moment. The program’s tradition and dominance have made it a massive brand, but let’s be real: things feel… different. With struggles on the field, players hitting the transfer portal, and Nick Saban no longer at the helm, the Tide seems to be at an inflection point. Do they keep rolling and stay nationally relevant, or risk blending into the crowd of “great programs” rather than the program? The playoff snubbed Kalen DeBoer’s Bama has folks scratching their heads, but he clearly needs more time.

That said, Crain & Company sat down to discuss why the great Alabama coach Nick Saban left them hanging. When a former 5-star recruit enters the portal, people notice. And when at Tuscaloosa, where five-stars are practically the norm, it seems like a bigger deal because these are top-tier talents hitting the market. This didn’t happen much under Nick Saban. But honestly, the transfer portal is just how college football operates now. As they speculate it’s part of why Saban stepped away, “I think this is one of the reasons that he did retire because of this aspect of the game.” It’s a new era, and maybe he got tired of navigating these constant roster changes. But who knows, he didn’t tell them the reason personally.

Now, as Alabama grapples with the reality of a post-Saban era, his Darth-Vader, the former Sioux Falls Cougars WR with 33 TDs, Kalen DeBoer has a good reason to fret with 14 players entering the transfer window after they were handed a shameful snub from the playoffs in favor of No. 10 SMU. But the portal era makes depth a moving target. Chase Goodbread from The Tuscaloosa News added perspective: “Even if DeBoer is able to push the program back into national championship contention, he’ll likely never be able to maintain the depth Saban once stockpiled in the pre-portal era.” Depth, as it turns out, may be the true casualty of the portal revolution.

Offering a sliver of hope, as most of the Bama players entering the transfer portal are backups, and currently, year 1 coach DeBoer has bigger fish to fry than go hunt for second-and-third string talent. Agreed that major names like DeVonta Smith, Kendrick Law, and Justin Haynes getting in the transfer portal was a dizzying hit to Alabama, but nothing they can’t manage without. The hope lies in DeBoer’s ability to adapt. While the x7 Natty lifter Nick Saban thrived in an era defined by consistency, DeBoer’s challenge will be mastering chaos.

Although, in the under Saban they didn’t lose 5-Star recruits as the podcasters said, “Alabama signs a bunch of five-star players and when they transfer out and enter the portal they’re going to be former very high recruits,” making a fish-market of bunch of stars. As last year under the GOAT coach they lost 18 players, who were second- and third-string talents. The present scenario for the Crimson Tide HC demands few positives to take.

Trim the fat now, show-off your abs later

As the winds of change sweep through Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer is taking a calculated approach to Alabama’s roster turnover. It’s not just about who’s leaving but also about creating room for players who can genuinely strengthen the locker room. “Shedding some guys who weaken the locker room rather than strengthening it will create space for the ones who can actually empower it,” writes Goodbread of their home news house. It’s a tough-love philosophy that’s essential in today’s transfer portal chaos.

It’s a different era now, and Alabama’s second- and third-string talent under Saban suffered for it, too, as we saw earlier. DeBoer, however, might just have the edge here. Could he actually outmaneuver Saban in managing the transfer era?

Throughout his reign, Saban famously built Alabama into a fortress, pulling in only the best talent, but he’s past now. DeBoer seems intent on continuing that legacy, even if it means parting ways with a few players and playing the long game. After all, it’s not just about adding talent; it’s about finding the right talent that fits the team’s culture. In this new age of constant roster churn, DeBoer’s strategy is simple yet effective: embrace the departures, focus on the essentials, and wait for the players Alabama needs to come knocking.