Kalen DeBoer is walking a tightrope this season, and he’s well aware of it. Last year’s shaky performance really took a toll, breaking a sixteen-year run of ten-win seasons and leaving them at a disappointing 9-4. The real sting? Losses to Oklahoma and, unbelievably, Vanderbilt—a team Alabama hadn’t lost to in forty years. This disruption to their legacy has not only piled pressure on the HC to deliver but also sparked hot seat talks. “I can’t take it no more because they put him in the company of Mark Stoops, Hugh Freeze, and Billy Napier…Coach Kalen DeBoer’s name shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as those coaches,” analyst Kangaroo Black ranted. While DeBoer won’t be fired simply because some are unhappy, another stumble, especially against a rebuilding Florida State, could mean the criticism comes much sooner than the season’s end.

Just so you know, Mike Norvell is also not in a better position this season either. It’s his $63.8 million buyout that’s protecting him. After a 13-1 season in 2023 and missing out on the playoffs, Norvell and the team were all set to make a bigger impact last season, but then they ended up being a joke with a 2-10 record. A loss to them would be indefensible for Kalen DeBoer’s team. And that’s exactly why SEC Mike is giving DeBoer an early warning on his SEC Football Podcast.

“I think Bama should beat the hell out of this team. I know it’s on the road, but how do you make any sort of [case] for Florida State?” Mike said, and then highlighted the Seminoles’ revamped lineup this season. “Gus Malzahn is offensive coordinator now at Florida State. They added the quarterback from Boston College—Castellanos, I think his name was. I just saw him last year play Missouri, and he looked pretty solid to me.” That’s a definite plus for Florida State, as Mike Norvell is clearly pulling out all the stops for a successful season.

They’ve brought in a new quarterback, Thomas Castellanos, and the offensive expertise of Gus Malzahn, a combination that could pose a significant challenge. Even Alabama’s Defensive Coordinator, Kane Wommack, is well aware of Malzahn’s capabilities. “You look at our first game of the season against Florida State—athletic quarterback,” Wommack noted. “I played for Gus Malzahn. I know how Gus does things from a quarterback run game. Mike Norvell does the same thing. So those are the things that you kind of have to be aware of, that everybody has an element to that in their game plan.”

But….

“But I don’t care if they’re bringing back 10 Tim Tebows or 10 Joe Burrows, you can’t lose this damn game if you’re Alabama,” Mike concluded.

Mike doesn’t buy the idea of Kalen DeBoer’s team losing against Mike Norvell’s, and if that happens, no one can save his tenure with the team. “I think if you lose this one, they’re not going to immediately turn around and fire Kalen DeBoer. But I bet you they’ll fire his a-s by the end of the year.” Even co-host Shane doubled down on the same and added, “It’d be tough to argue that one, you know? Because again, Florida State was such a joke last season, and if we’re going to continue that role into 2025—and if Bama loses—then all of a sudden, they become that joke. Can’t afford that one.” But is the Seminoles game the only worry?

More pressure strikes Kalen DeBoer

Well, for now, Kalen DeBoer’s fate lies on a thin thread, and it all comes down to consistency. He’s got to get Alabama to the playoffs; the honeymoon phase is over. He can’t afford another season where one loss derails their playoff hopes, and that’s exactly what SEC Mike is pointing out.

“We’ve already thrown Kalen DeBoer to the side of the road with the rest of the trash if they lose this—if they don’t make the playoff, right? So if you’re losing at home to LSU, I don’t think you’re making the playoff. And LSU—I think you could lose this game because it’s on the road and still potentially make it, but it’s going to be tough. Particularly with everybody and their mother telling us Clemson is God’s gift to football now,” Mike said. Last year’s dominant 42-13 victory against LSU at home won’t matter if they stumble this year in Tuscaloosa, significantly hurting their playoff chances.

With teams like Clemson already generating playoff hype despite past losses, a defeat against LSU could leave Alabama on the outside looking in. “LSU—you probably can’t afford to lose. Alabama—I don’t think you can afford to lose LSU. I think that’s a damn hot seat game.”

While DeBoer boasts a strong 15-3 record against top-25 teams over the last five seasons, these two upcoming games against LSU and Florida State carry immense weight. Losing either could quickly turn things sour for both DeBoer and Alabama. But it’s not just one slip-up that’ll send DeBoer packing. It’s a string of stumbles that could really crank up the heat under his seat. Right now, though, DeBoer’s chair isn’t exactly scorching hot; it’s more like a cozy lukewarm situation.