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Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer Strongly Shuts Down Penn State Coaching Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Dec 4, 2025 4:09 PM ET

The No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing for the SEC Championship Game against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday in Atlanta.

Alabama landing as the No. 9 seed in the latest College Football Playoff rankings should be enough to keep them in the 12-team field regardless of how things go on Saturday, although the final decision will be revealed on Sunday.

Kalen DeBoer is in his second season as head coach in Tuscaloosa after replacing Nick Saban following his sudden retirement.

DeBoer spent two years as Fresno State's head coach and then two years at Washington. In his first season at Alabama, he went 9-4 with a loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl as Alabama missed the playoff.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.David Leong-Imagn Images

DeBoer's name was linked to the Penn State job in some markets, and it made plenty of waves as the Nittany Lions are still in search of a head coach.

But, DeBoer strongly shut down such talks on Thursday.

“We’re extremely happy at Alabama,” DeBoer said. "We’re extremely happy here. Love the challenge, love the grind, love this place. And there’s never been any link. There’s never been any conversation. There’s never been any interest either way...And so, I’m glad we can put that to bed right now.”

"We are extremely happy at Alabama. ... There's never been any link, any conversation, any interest either way. I'm glad we can put that to bed right now."

Kalen DeBoer's response to being asked about the Penn State job. pic.twitter.com/uFi1vq1zqO
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 4, 2025

According to Fox Sports, DeBoer is earning $10.25 million this year at Alabama, and moving to Penn State would've been a surprise given his early success with the Crimson Tide.

Alabama's been able to land big recruits for the future, so DeBoer leaving after just two years at Alabama didn't make too much sense to begin with.

Right now, DeBoer left no doubt about his feelings for any other job, and the Crimson Tide is preparing to find a way to defeat the Bulldogs for the second time in hopes of winning the SEC.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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