From facing early doubts to turning his team into a national contender, Kalen DeBoer has come a long way. Seven consecutive wins and a 5-0 dominance in the SEC after a stunning loss against Florida State say plenty about the culture he’s building. Still, DeBoer refuses to exhale. The Alabama faithful may believe he’s settled into the massive shoes left by Nick Saban, but DeBoer himself isn’t “comfortable” being the Saban successor. And maybe that’s exactly why his team looks hungrier than ever.

In a recent appearance on The Triple Option Show, host Rob Stone asked DeBoer the question every Alabama fan has wondered. Does he finally feel comfortable coaching the Crimson Tide? His answer was pure conviction. He’s not chasing comfort. “I’m not going to let myself get comfortable,” DeBoer said. “That’s the way you’ve got to keep attacking it, and that’s the way it’s always been. The pressure you put on yourself, that I’ve put on myself, has always been so great and so high.” Now sitting at 16-5 and ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll, DeBoer knows that losing focus isn’t an option.

Taking over for Nick Saban was never going to be easy. Year 1 showed just how steep the climb would be for Kalen DeBoer. He stumbled, failing to enter the playoffs and having a 10-win season for the first time since 2007. Then, coming in year two and losing against a 2-10 team was another strike for him, after which doubts kept growing. But this year, he’s regained the belief that Alabama’s standard still lives under his watch.

“I love living here, though,” DeBoer said. “My family loves it, and it’s fun when what you’re really passionate about is a priority and really important to the university, the people, your alumni. Getting the text from Mark (Ingram) and other (alumni) that they’re proud — that means the world to me because that’s what I do.” It’s remarkable how a coach once on the hot seat to start the season is now being fully embraced in Tuscaloosa.

A major part of that turnaround has been DeBoer’s seamless transition from Jalen Milroe to Ty Simpson. Naming Simpson the starter might be the best decision he’s made yet. The sophomore has already thrown for 2,184 yards with 20 touchdowns and just one interception. No wonder he’s already a Heisman favorite and making first-round-pick buzz.

After edging South Carolina last week, Alabama finally broke free from its “can’t-finish” label against lesser opponents and has now won three straight nail-biters, including field-goal victories over Georgia and Missouri. That newfound toughness has landed the Tide among ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s shortlist of teams “playing like a national champion” entering Week 10. Slowly but surely, Kalen DeBoer is constructing Alabama into his “next Washington Huskies.”

Kalen DeBoer mirrors Huskies’ success in Bama

Well, DeBoer’s success in Washington is unmatched, as he took them to a perfect 12-0 season in 2023. They even got into the playoffs, winning against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. The only loss that came in for them was against Michigan; with that, they ended their season with a 14-1 record. But now he’s trying to do the same with Alabama, and ESPN’s Bill Connelly points it out perfectly.

“The 2023 Washington vibes continue. After winning four straight games against ranked opponents—including three that had the ball with a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter (and two that, per SP+, generated the game’s superior stats)—Bama seemingly got a break against a 3-4 South Carolina team.” Connelly said. “But even with an incredible—and incredibly lucky—first-half pick-six, the Tide found themselves trailing 22-14 in Columbia with less than three minutes left. Then they magiced their way right out of a jam.”

Alabama has now won four consecutive games against ranked opponents, surviving tight finishes just like DeBoer’s Washington team did a year ago. But while the parallels are striking, there’s one key difference, blue-chip talent. Washington fell short against Michigan largely because the Wolverines had the superior roster. This time, DeBoer has blue-chip depth on his side. In fact, Georgia is the only team in the country with a more talented lineup — and Alabama already handed them a loss. That alone speaks volumes about the dominance DeBoer has built. Now, the question is whether the Tide can keep that momentum rolling when LSU comes to town.