Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Dealt Bad News on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 10:48 AM ET

Kalen DeBoer and the No. 9 seed Alabama Crimson Tide were eliminated from the College Football Playoff on Thursday. They lost to the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.

That officially ended their season at 11-4 and 7-1 in SEC matchups. No longer competing for a national championship, the Crimson Tide enter the offseason set to undergo several changes.

That includes navigating the transfer portal. The window opened on Friday and runs through Jan. 16. Alabama has already lost four players to the portal.

The latest came on Friday. 247Sports' Chris Hummer reported that Alabama running back Richard Young will be entering the transfer portal.

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Richard Young (9).Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Young has appeared in 15 games since 2023. In that time, he rushed the ball 59 times for 234 yards and five touchdowns. He's also hauled in just two receptions for 13 yards.

He has spent his entire collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. Coming out of high school in the 2023 cycle, he was a four-star recruit, the No. 4 running back and the No. 63 player in the nation, per Rivals Industry Rankings.

He committed to Alabama over the Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Florida Gators. As a redshirt sophomore, Young will have two more years of eligibility for whichever team he chooses.

Young is an unfortunate loss for the Crimson Tide, but DeBoer could look into the portal to find a replacement. Last offseason, Alabama brought in 11 transfer players, while losing 24.

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

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