Joel Klatt reveals how much pressure is on Kalen DeBoer in 2025, picks one game that could change everything

Alabama‘s 9-4 finish under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer saw the Crimson Tide miss out on the College Football Playoff in the first year of its 12-team format. While the finish to the year wasn’t how the Alabama faithful drew it up, is the pressure already mounting for DeBoer to take his team to the CFP?

Joel Klatt believes there is some mounting for the Alabama head coach heading into year two. Based on his proven track record, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be successful during his tenure in Tuscaloosa.

“So at this point, the fan base right now is just trying to be patient with Kalen DeBoer,” Klatt said. “We want to see what this guy has. Year two of DeBoer, year one was, let’s face it, a little underwhelming. They’re 9-4, first time not winning 10 games since 2007. [The fans] are not going to sit around and wait for these eight-win and nine-win season. So, [fans are] trying to be patient. Obviously, he has been great everywhere that he’s been as a head coach, in particular, making the national championship game with Washington right before he got down to Tuscaloosa.

“He’s in place at a place that is expected to win, and not just win, but win big and win at the highest level of college football. Can’t miss the playoff in particular … And I think that it could get a little uncomfortable for Kalen DeBoer when you look at that schedule.”

Alabama’s schedule consists of a season-opening matchup against Florida State, which Klatt believes should go in favor of the Crimson Tide. They’ll take on Wisconsin in Week 3 before beginning SEC play in Week 5 against Georgia after a bye.

While both programs have that game circled on a yearly basis. However, Klatt doesn’t see that as the most important game on the Tide’s schedule in 2025. That title is reserved for the Oct. 18 matchup against Tennessee at home. The outcome could change the entire outlook of Alabama’s season, according to Klatt.

“If you’re losing to Tennessee, you probably lost to Georgia,” Klatt said. “So that would be your second loss. It would be your second loss in the SEC and then you still have to go to South Carolina and then host LSU. If you were to just lose to Tennessee, who doesn’t have Nico Iamaleava, and now you’re about to go play LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussemeier … Now all of a sudden, you would likely have to run the table in order to avoid like a 9-3 finish. And we saw what 9-3 did last year, even in the SEC.”

Boasting a stiff schedule, the Crimson Tide will look to rise to the occasion this fall and quiet the naysayers in the process. That effort begins in Week 1 against the Seminoles inside Doak Campbell Stadium.