The fans certainly are not happy with the direction of the program since DeBoer was placed in the very tough spot of replacing the legendary Nick Saban. Most programs would be happy with a 20-8 mark over two seasons and a trip to the College Football Playoff, but that's not enough for Tide backers. What can we expect from DeBoer & Co. this season as they kick off Saturday at home vs.
Bet on college football at DraftKings, where new users get $200 when they spend $5+: At the end of last regular season, you could find DeBoer odds on leaving Alabama at some sportsbooks as he was linked to lower-pressure jobs at Michigan and Penn State but never interviewed at either school. He was given a new contract at Alabama through 2033 worth $12.5 million per year, a $2 million raise from what he was scheduled to make this season. His buyout currently is $67.5 million, so he's not going anywhere short of a 2-10 campaign.
If DeBoer gets fed up with all the criticism in Tuscaloosa, his buyout owed to the school if he leaves is $10 million through Jan. 31, 2027, and then it starts dropping. If you're interested in college football betting and want to try it on the best sports betting apps, you can check out the SportsLine Projection Model for picks on games from both the simulations and our experts. We have a strong play here for those who want to get into parlay betting as the 2026 college football season kicks off.
I wonder if the school would have extended DeBoer had Alabama not snuck into last year's playoff despite getting trucked in the SEC title game by Georgia. The Crimson Tide did then beat an overrated Oklahoma team in Round 1 before they had their doors blown off by eventual national champion Indiana to finish with four losses for a second straight year. Alabama hasn't lost at least four games in three straight seasons since way back from 1982-84, at the end of the Bear Bryant era and start of Ray Perkins' tenure.
The Crimson Tide were ranked 13th in the preseason AP Top 25, outside the top 10 in the poll for the first time since Saban's second season in 2008. Bama has won at least nine regular-season games in 17 straight seasons but is given an Over/Under total of 8.5 for 2026, the lowest since '08. The team's odds to win the SEC title are +850, the longest since at least 2008 to open a year.
And the Tide's +2200 odds to win the national title are also the longest in that span. Bet on college football futures using the latest FanDuel promo code for up to $350 in bonus bets: Ty Simpson was last year's starter at QB and became a first-round pick by the Rams. He will be replaced on Saturday by sophomore Keelon Russell, who beat out senior Austin Mack for the job.
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