Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse That's Not Like The Rest

The Alabama Crimson Tide has long been one of the premier programs in college football. During his tenure, legendary head coach Nick Saban took the program to an even higher level.

Saban won six national championships and had an 87.7% winning percentage in his 17 seasons. However, Saban is no longer the coach, as former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer has taken over.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum believes DeBoer will face new and unprecedented expectations due to the unique nature of Alabama.

"I feel good about him," Finebaum said. "He checks a lot of boxes, which is important. I'd rather him be a successful coach than Alabama hire a coach with a losing record. The unknown is how does he handle the pressure of the job, the culture of Alabama football, which is better than anybody else, quite frankly."

DeBoer appears ready for the challenge. Throughout his coaching career, he has achieved a remarkable 104-12 record as a head coach, including a 37-9 record at the FBS level. During his time at Washington, he led a team that had a 4-8 record in the previous year to an impressive 11-2 record in his first season. Subsequently, he guided them to a 14-1 record and a national championship game appearance in the following season.

So, no matter where he's been, his teams have always won. However, according to Finebaum, he has yet to face an animal that is Alabama football. If he's ready for the challenge, the Crimson Tide could continue to roll.

Related: Paul Finebaum Predicts Alabama's Record This Season