DeBoer took Washington to the championship game in his second season as head coach. Is it realistic to expect the same thing at Alabama?

Alabama football landed at No. 17 in the final coaches poll top 25 of the 2024 season. The Crimson Tide finished off Kalen DeBoer’s first season 9-4 after losing the ReliaQuest Bowl to Michigan. Five coaches left UA out of the top 25 entirely. DeBoer, also a voter in the poll, put his team a bit higher than the average.

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer and UGA's Kirby Smart had agendas while deciding where to rank Tennessee in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Here’s what Kalen DeBoer’s career has looked like in his second seasons as a head coach ahead of heading into year two at Alabama.

After finishing the season 9-4 with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Michigan, the Crimson Tide was listed as the No. 17 team in the final US LBM Coaches Poll released Tuesday. In his final coaches poll of the season, Kalen DeBoer had the Crimson Tide a bit higher.

Washington improved. It won 14 games in 2023, beating Texas again in the College Football Playoff in the Sugar Bowl before losing to Michigan in the CFP national championship game. Days later, DeBoer was named as Nick Saban's successor with Alabama football.

Kalen DeBoer earned a less-than-stellar grade from ESPN for his coaching performance in his first season after taking over for Nick Saban.

There were 54 coaches who voted on the 2024 coaches poll. We took a peek at their ballots to see where they ranked Tennessee.