Paul Finebaum Issues Six-Word Expectation For Kalen DeBoer At Alabama

Few college football personalities have the type of relationship Paul Finebaum has with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He admitted that the past six months since Nick Saban retired have been the “worst of his life”. Finebaum is never someone to go light with his opinion on a program, and he’s holding new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer to the same standard he held his now sports media colleague.

He only needed six words to describe his expectations for Kalen DeBoer in his first season since leading the Washington Huskies to a national championship appearance.

“He better get to the playoffs,” Finebaum said on Wednesday morning’s episode of Get Up.

Coming off a national championship appearance himself, DeBoer already proved he can meet the standard that Finebaum and Crimson Tide fans have for Alabama.

“Alabama is used to playing in the national championship game, so if Kalen DeBoer doesn’t make it to the playoffs this year, it’s a bust,” he said.

Making the playoffs in 2024 with Alabama should be a much more manageable task than what he did with the Washington Huskies in 2023. There are eight more playoff spots available this upcoming season, and it remains to be seen if there will be as many undefeated and one-loss teams clamoring to get in after the 2024 regular season.

Finebaum still sets a high bar for the team in Tuscaloosa, and missing the playoffs this year will be much more disappointing than in years prior.

Related: Paul Finebaum Gets Into It With ESPN Analyst Over College Football Hot Take