Alabama football fans had been eager to see head coach Kalen DeBoer show some intensity on the sidelines this season. Known for his calm demeanor, DeBoer contrasts with Nick Saban’s more fiery approach, rarely allowing emotions to take over.

However, that changed in Alabama’s 34-0 victory over Missouri. DeBoer was visibly more animated than usual, frequently challenging the officials in what was a poorly officiated game—a recurring theme in the SEC this season. DeBoer also wasn’t shy about holding his players accountable. The highlight came in the fourth quarter when Alabama’s defense made a goal-line stand, preventing Missouri from scoring and preserving Alabama’s first SEC shutout since 2020.

Nick Saban became known for his relentless standards, often critiquing players for mental lapses even in blowout wins, while staying surprisingly calm in close games or when trailing. Kalen DeBoer has shown a similar approach, but his fiery sideline demeanor in the fourth quarter against Missouri looked right out of Saban’s playbook.

DeBoer coached with a clear sense of urgency, understanding the significance of the game—not only to secure a win but to help Alabama regain its high standard of play and build momentum. This comes at a crucial time, with a bye week ahead of a pivotal road matchup at LSU, which could shape the Crimson Tide’s playoff chances.

Players tend to mirror their coach’s energy, and Alabama showed that urgency on Saturday. DeBoer’s fire on the sideline will resonate with fans, signaling his growing understanding of the weight of the Alabama role and the commitment needed to succeed in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama Crimson Tide Playoff chances increase from ‘Bye-Week Poll Rankings Boost’

Alabama’s Week 10 bye turned out to be a game-changer, with four higher-ranked teams losing and at least one effectively falling out of Playoff contention. Although the AP Poll will update on Sunday, the real impact will be felt with the College Football Playoff Committee’s rankings on Tuesday. Alabama might not crack the top 12 in the initial rankings, but Week 10’s events have boosted confidence that a 10-2 Alabama could make the final Playoff cut.

Jerry Palm’s latest projections place Alabama as the No. 9 seed, potentially facing Penn State on the road, with four SEC teams (Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama) making his Playoff list. He also includes three Big Ten teams, two Big 12 teams, and one from the ACC. Meanwhile, ESPN’s FPI Ranking holds Alabama at No. 3, and the Allstate Playoff Predictor gives the Tide a strong 97% chance of reaching the Playoffs as the No. 7 seed if they finish 10-2.

Alabama Crimson Tide Rankings Boost

In the latest Coaches Poll, Alabama climbed three spots to No. 11, benefiting from Week 10 shake-ups. Other big movers include Ole Miss, which rose six spots to No. 12, and Boise State and SMU, both up four spots to Nos. 14 and 15, respectively. LSU gained three spots, now sitting at No. 13, while Vanderbilt returned to the rankings at No. 25 following its road win over Auburn.

On the flip side, Clemson saw the largest drop, falling nine spots to No. 17. Iowa State dropped eight spots to No. 18, Kansas State slipped six spots to No. 21, Pittsburgh also dropped six spots to No. 23, and Texas A&M fell five spots to No. 16. Missouri moved up one spot to No. 22, with South Carolina just outside the top 25 at No. 28. In the AP Poll, Alabama also sits at No. 11. The SEC is well represented, with Georgia at No. 2, Texas at No. 5, Tennessee at No. 7, LSU at No. 14, Texas A&M at No. 15, Ole Miss at No. 16, and Vanderbilt at No. 24. Missouri and South Carolina are close to breaking into the AP top 25, at Nos. 26 and 27, respectively.

Alabama Crimson Tide fans might find themselves vocally supporting Hugh Freeze for one straightforward reason: Auburn fans are eager to see him fired. The longer Freeze remains as Auburn’s head coach, the better it is for Alabama football.

Following Auburn’s home loss to Vanderbilt, Freeze claimed he didn’t notice the boos coming from the stands. However, multiple reports indicate that the boos were indeed directed at him, not the players or officials. This dissatisfaction is reflected in the surge of ‘Fire Freeze’ sentiments circulating on message boards and social media among Auburn fans, with some even advocating for drastic measures against him. By supporting Freeze, Alabama fans can revel in the chaos at their rival school, hoping that instability within Auburn’s coaching staff continues to benefit Alabama’s own football program.

Alabama Crimson Tide fans can’t just stand by and watch the calls for Hugh Freeze’s firing unfold. In fact, one Alabama fan, Lisa Rawls, expressed her thoughts on Twitter, urging Auburn to keep Freeze as head coach, stating, “Please @AuburnFootball keep Hugh Freeze as HC. Please give him chance after chance, this season and beyond. Thank you in advance.” I completely agree with Lisa, as I’ve consistently advocated for the last three Auburn head coaches not to be dismissed, and Hugh Freeze is no exception. I even suggested that Auburn should offer Gus Malzahn a lifetime contract and made similar appeals for Freeze earlier this season.

At this stage, Alabama fans may consider themselves fortunate if Auburn waits until after the 2025 season to let Freeze go. The Auburn fans pushing for his immediate departure are correct in believing that the program’s future would only decline further under his leadership. While Freeze has proven to be a strong recruiter for Auburn, the outlook for another losing season—potentially their fourth in a row—will likely lead to the loss of current commitments, including those ranked No. 5 for the 2025 class. The 2026 recruiting cycle is also likely to suffer, with talent diminishing to merely respectable, but not transformative, levels. Moreover, significant player departures through the transfer portal could further devastate the Tigers.

Many Auburn fans are starting to recognize a harsh reality: Freeze is not a high-caliber coach. His two victories over Nick Saban, which took place nearly a decade ago, included at least one that many would consider a fluke. As the tweet below highlights, he stands in stark contrast to the elite coaches in college football.