Let’s not sugarcoat it—Tuscaloosa was in straight-up shambles last fall. The post-Saban Tide got hit with a culture shock and boy, it showed. They lost to Vanderbilt. Vandy. What even? Then they folded to Tennessee, were thrashed on national TV at Norman, and got punked by Michigan in a bowl game that was supposed to be their bounce-back moment. Instead, it turned into a backbreaker. 9 wins? Cool for Kentucky. But in Bama? That’s a funeral stat. Worst record since ’07. And now, heading into 2025, the noise is deafening. And Kalen DeBoer? He just made a move that’s got the fan base raising eyebrows and setting expectations sky-high.

After one of the most embarrassing seasons Bama’s seen since Crocs were cool the first time, the heat hasn’t just turned up—it’s flaming. Kalen DeBoer walked into Tuscaloosa with a solid rep, but the SEC doesn’t give you time to figure it out. You either run the table, or they run you out. That loss to Vandy? First since 1984. Tennessee? First L in Knoxville since 2003. Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl? 19-13 OT heartbreaker. God forbid talking about the Sooners here. And yeah, the committee said no playoffs for you, Bama.

On May 7th, SEC Mike and Cousin went live on ‘That SEC Football Podcast,’ and SEC Mike kept it raw. “For Alabama, it’s making the playoff; I don’t even think that’s enough. I really don’t. I think you gotta make the second round. Which means winning the SEC—you automatically get there—or you win a first-round game, however you wanna splice it. I think that’s, that’s kinda, that’d be a boom for Alabama. Meanwhile, a bust I think is missing the playoffs. I don’t think anything—I think that’s a complete failure for Alabama.” That isn’t a hot take. That’s just Bama culture.

That 2025 schedule isn’t sweet either. Alabama starts at Florida State—probably an easy dub. Week 3? Wisconsin. Manageable. Then you hit Georgia on the road, Vandy, Mizzou, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma, and wrap it all up with Auburn at Jordan-Hare. There’s no ‘get it right’ game. It’s survive or die. This is the football Hunger Games. Making the second round of the playoffs is the bare minimum for Kalen DeBoer.

Now DeBoer’s sitting on a 9–3 record overall and a fan base ready to riot. No clear QB1. No Nick Saban. Just chaos. Enter the quarterback saga. With Jalen Milroe gone, Alabama’s QB room looks like a Craigslist ad: lightly used, high potential, but might break under pressure. Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell, Austin Mack—a whole traffic jam of talent. But after spring ball? Somebody blinked.

Kalen DeBoer makes bold admission about Ty Simpson

The streets have been buzzing’ ever since Bama OC Ryan Grubb kept it a buck about who’s leading the charge under center. “If we’re playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start,” Grubb said. “He earned that.” He didn’t even blink. Called Simpson more composed, more efficient, better with ball security. That lit the spark.

Then Coach DeBoer tried to cool it off, saying there wasn’t “separation yet.” But c’mon now, that smokescreen didn’t fool anybody. By the time Bama hit that field in August, Ty was already walking like QB1. Even Mick Gillispie from Cover Crimson said, “I think they’ll have some patience with Ty, but if he struggles… I could see Mack coming in. And if it all goes sideways, Russell might get a shot.”

Here’s what makes this all crazier: Ty Simpson is no stranger to the sidelines. He’s been behind Milroe for two seasons. Waited, learned, watched. He knows the system better than anyone else in that room. And Kalen DeBoer even said it out loud, “Ty has been around and just has done a nice job. I think the trending upward is a big piece of it. Ty is an accurate thrower. There’s always gonna be balls that every guy wants back, but I think the ability to learn from your mistakes, learn from other people’s mistakes, be able to comprehend, not be overwhelmed, I think that he’s just had more time.” That’s basically coach speak for, “This is my guy unless he chokes.”

And it makes sense. DeBoer can’t risk another QB disaster in a season where he basically has to make the playoffs or get booed at Starbucks. Simpson might not be flashy, but he’s steady. And in a brutal 2025 schedule that opens with Florida State, then Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn? You need steady.

So where does that leave DeBoer? Backed in a corner, rolling with Ty Simpson, hoping it doesn’t blow up. The QB battle might be over (for now), but the war? Just started. If Ty falters, DeBoer has two options with zero experience behind him and zero room for error. In Tuscaloosa, forgiveness expired with the Saban era. Bottom line? Ty Simpson better ball like he’s been waiting his whole life for this. ‘Cause in 2025, Alabama isn’t giving any second chances. And if DeBoer fumbles this again? He won’t even get a third.