Finebaum Says Kalen DeBoer Should Eye Michigan If Alabama Falls in CFP Opener

The College Football Playoff is finally here, and the pressure is sky-high for every coach involved. Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer enters Round 1 with more noise around his program than anyone else, and ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes a loss could push him toward a surprising move: leaving the Crimson Tide for Michigan.

Finebaum didn’t hold back this week when discussing the heat Kalen DeBoer is currently facing in Tuscaloosa. Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, he said the Alabama job may become “very cold” for DeBoer if the Tide suffer another disappointing finish.

The skepticism around Kalen DeBoer has grown since Week 1, when Alabama fell flat in a 31–17 loss to Florida State. Even national analysts questioned whether DeBoer could survive the early-season stretch. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky blasted the team’s performance, saying, “If Nick Saban watched this tape back yesterday, he would have kicked some of these kids off the team… Can Kalen DeBoer survive September?”

Alabama hasn’t helped itself since. The Tide looked lost at times against Auburn, dropped a home game to Oklahoma, and were outmatched by Georgia in the SEC championship. Add it all up, and the program’s standard—built by Nick Saban himself—feels miles away from where Alabama sits now.

Another loss, especially in the playoff opener on December 19 in Norman, would almost certainly intensify the frustration among fans, analysts, and the boosters who carry major influence. That’s why Finebaum and others believe the Michigan job might become a real option for DeBoer if things go south.

The Wolverines fired head coach Sherrone Moore with cause after details of an inappropriate relationship surfaced, leaving the program in the hands of interim coach Biff Poggi. Many of the biggest names on the coaching carousel—Lane Kiffin, Kalani Sitake, James Franklin, Alex Golesh—are staying put, making DeBoer one of the few high-profile candidates available.

There’s also the challenge ahead: DeBoer already lost to Oklahoma earlier this season, and now he has to face the Sooners on their home field. OU quarterback John Mateer is in rhythm, their defensive front is among the nation’s best, and Alabama is limping into the game with injuries across the board. Running backs Jam Miller and Kevin Riley, tight end Josh Cuevas, left tackle LT Overton, and defenders Jah-Marien Latham and Jeremiah Beaman are all dealing with issues that could affect their availability.

With Alabama barely sneaking into the playoff over Notre Dame, the Tide can’t afford another dud. But if one comes, Finebaum’s prediction suddenly becomes a storyline to watch closely.

Could Kalen DeBoer trade Crimson for Maize and Blue once the postseason dust settles? The answer may come as soon as Round 1.

Also Read: Michigan Booster Speaks Out as Sherrone Moore Scandal Deepens