Paul Finebaum Reveals Major SEC Program Who’s Season is on the ‘Brink’

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum does not mince words when it comes to evaluating college football programs and their head coaches. After a wild weekend of action, one thing is clear to the long-time host about a major SEC team that has vastly underperformed over the last two weeks.

Finebaum believes the 2024 season is "on the brink" for the No. 7 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. After taking down Georgia in Week 5 and moving to No. 1 in the AP Top 25, the Tide fell to unranked Vanderbilt the following week before going to the wire against unranked South Carolina on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama's 27-25 win over the Gamecocks did not sit well with Finebaum and has casted a lot of doubt ahead of a monumental SEC clash at No. 11 Tennessee on Oct. 19.

“I think Kalen DeBoer’s season is definitely on the brink this weekend," Finebaum said on "ESPN College Football."

"Kalen DeBoer's smile is finally wearing very thin with the Tide faithful," he continued. "They don't see the coach they thought they saw two weeks ago. They see someone who comes off weak, who comes off as slap you on the back type of coach. That doesn't really appeal to what Alabama football was built on..."

DeBoer and company faced a massive challenge in replacing arguably the greatest coach in college football history after Nick Saban retired in the offseason. Saban won six national championships during his 17-year tenure in Tuscaloosa, and DeBoer, out of Washington, was asked to keep the history of excellence rolling.

The last two weeks have been forgettable for Alabama, but there are still a wealth of opportunities to make the SEC Championship Game and secure a College Football Playoff spot. The Volunteers (5-1) are also attempting to make their own run, though, after losing to unranked Arkansas in Week 6 and going to the wire at home against unranked Florida on Saturday.

Following the trip to Knoxville, the Tide still have ranked SEC matchups against No. 19 Missouri and No. 8 LSU left on the schedule.

Alabama-Tennessee is slated for Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

Related: Nick Saban Addresses the Behavior of Alabama Captain Malachi Moore After Vanderbilt Loss