Paul Finebaum Warns Alabama To 'Watch Out' If One Thing Happens

The Alabama Crimson Tide is about to embark on a new era. Legendary coach Nick Saban has departed, and rising newcomer Kalen DeBoer has taken his place.

DeBoer has just led the Washington Huskies to a perfect regular season, Pac-12 championship and a College Football Playoff win over the Texas Longhorns before losing in the national championship game. However, he's not Saban.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum believes the standards are lower this season. A playoff berth will be considered a success, but anything below that could lead to discontent among the fan base.

"I think the standard for him to reach is lower than it has been in a while," Finebaum said. "I think the playoffs will be considered a success. Anything lower than that, watch out."

Even though the standard might not be as high as before, Alabama is still expected to be one of the top five teams in the country in the preseason. ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength designed to predict a team's performance for the rest of the season. According to the FPI, the Crimson Tide is ranked as the No. 5 team in the country.

The Crimson Tide also has the 5th best chance to make the national championship and win the College Football Playoff. So, while the standard might be lower, it's not by much.

Related: Paul Finebaum Predicts 'Disaster' If SEC Power Doesn't Make College Football Playoff