ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum discussed the challenges Alabama faced in the wake of Nick Saban’s departure, highlighting how his absence negatively impacted the entire program this season, ultimately affecting their performance in the College Football Playoff.
“From 2009 to 2020, Nick Saban appeared in the National Championship game nine times. That’s a major achievement,” Finebaum said on the Matt Barrie Show.
“Kirby Smart was expected to dominate the sport, but he hasn’t. Looking back, the Nick Saban era in College Football seems to have been more about him than the SEC itself. It was truly about Saban.”
“It’s only been a year and ten days since Saban retired, but it feels like much longer,” he added.
Matt Barrie, Finebaum’s co-analyst, stressed the importance of moving beyond Saban’s legacy and embracing the next phase of Alabama football, despite the lingering impact of the “Bama Standard.”
“This is year two for DeBoer. The aftershocks of Saban’s time are fading, and now it’s Kalen DeBoer’s program. How College Football evolves in the post-Saban era over the next decade is one of the most intriguing storylines,” Barrie remarked.
While comparisons to the greatest coach in college football history are inevitable, DeBoer made a solid start in his first year as head coach at Alabama. The Crimson Tide came close to securing a College Football Playoff spot, sparking debates despite a season marred by losses to mid-tier teams.
This speaks volumes about DeBoer’s ability to keep the program competitive, but it wasn’t quite enough to break through, especially in the larger context of national championship aspirations. DeBoer still has a significant journey ahead in building a championship-caliber team that adheres to the “Bama Standard.”
