Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football coach has been far from perfect. It’s been far from disastrous, too.
The Crimson Tide lost to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, two 6-6 teams that were both heavy underdogs when hosting Alabama, as well as the arch rival Tennessee Volunteers in DeBoer’s first dance with the ‘Third Saturday in October’ rivalry.
But Alabama also won nine games and has a chance to finish in the top 10 of the polls and to reach 10 wins for the 17th consecutive season (a streak that began back in 2008).
On Thursday, USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg gave letter grades to every first-year college football coach at the FBS level after their respective debut seasons. DeBoer received a B.
Myerberg said:
“There were good moments, including wins against Georgia, South Carolina, LSU and Missouri. There were also some pretty sour moments, most recently in the 24-3 loss to Oklahoma that held Alabama out of the playoff. DeBoer’s first year reinforced how hard life will be for Alabama in the post-Nick Saban era.”
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DeBoer’s grade was in line with that of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore. Alabama will face Michigan in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl (Outback Bowl) on New Year’s Eve at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Alabama announced DeBoer as its head coach on Jan. 12, less than 48 hours after Saban’s sudden retirement from the sport. DeBoer took the Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season before falling to a 15-0 Michigan team.
DeBoer ranked just above his Washington successor, Jedd Fisch, who was given a B- grade. Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti topped USA TODAY Sports’ grades with an A++.
Among the three first-year SEC coaches, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko received an A- grade after guiding the Aggies to an 8-4 regular season. Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby received the lowest grade of any FBS coach with a D after the Bulldogs finished 2-10.
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