Vanderbilt might have snuck up on many in the country, and many on the Alabama football roster in 2024, but not the Crimson Tide’s coach. Kalen DeBoer knew what the Commodores could do.

The second episode of “The Tides that Bind” on Fox Nation revealed that Wednesday in the clip of the meeting Alabama held after the win over Georgia leading into Vanderbilt week.

“Our energy and focus is on Vanderbilt moving forward,” DeBoer told his team. “We should continue to be confident. I want to make sure we’re not arrogant. We won one SEC game. We’ve won one SEC game. And it’s a big game that we won. But nothing carries over. (Vanderbilt’s) a much better football team than what they’ve been in the past.”

Alabama moved up to No. 1 in the country in the AP top 25 after beating Georgia. Then the Crimson Tide went to Nashville and dropped the game to Vanderbilt 40-35.

DeBoer was right in that the Commodores were not the Commodores of recent years. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea led his team to a 7-6 record in 2024, including a bowl victory over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl.

Alabama is about to start spring practice in preparation for the 2025 season, DeBoer’s second leading the Crimson Tide.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.