Paul Finebaum Reveals What a Successful Season Would Be for Alabama

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 3:03 PM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide missed out on the 12-team College Football Playoff after three losses in the regular season.

Paul Finebaum joined a recent edition of " Get Up" to explain how making the playoff should be the goal for Kalen DeBoer and company in year two.

After missing the playoff, Alabama faced the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl and lost 19-13. The loss secured the first season with under 10 wins since 2007, which was Nick Saban's first year with the program.

It was also the first time Alabama had nine wins in a season since the Gene Stallings era.

"Making the College Football Playoff," Finebaum said. "Everybody knows what happened last year, they missed out with the debacle at the end of the season. He has done an amazing job recruiting. In fact, at a level that is very close to what Nick Saban did at times."

The results that Alabama fans want have not come yet under DeBoer, but he has proven he can recruit in the South. The Crimson Tide had the No. 3 overall class for 2025 and are ranked No. 6 for the 2026 cycle via On3 Sports.

Alabama has kept on rolling in recruiting and is leading the race for four-star quarterback Tayden Kaawa. However, the Crimson Tide cannot secure every recruit's commitment.

Despite being named a finalist for four-star inside offensive lineman Deacon Schmitt, he picked the Oklahoma Sooners over Alabama and the Colorado Buffaloes.

Alabama opens the 2025 season against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

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