Paul Finebaum Sets the Record Straight on Kalen DeBoer’s Hot Seat Status

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 6:00 PM ET

The 2024 college football season did not go as expected for some of the top coaches and programs in the sport. This has created significant pressure for the 2025 season.

One team and coach under pressure this season is the Alabama Crimson Tide and their head coach, Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer is entering his second year after taking over from legendary coach Nick Saban. In DeBoer's first season, the Crimson Tide finished with a record of 9-4, marking their worst performance since 2007. Notably, three of those losses came against teams that ended the year with five or more losses.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst stated that he is frequently asked whether DeBoer is on the hot seat this upcoming season. He does not believe DeBoer is at risk yet, but winning this season is crucial.

"I get the question all of the time, 'Is he in trouble?'" Finebaum said. "The answer is no. What does he need to do? It seems like he needs to get to the playoffs."

Alabama may encounter a significant challenge if the Crimson Tide do not have a successful season and decide to part ways with DeBoer. His buyout is one of the largest in college football, set to be $70 million in 2025. This amount ranks as the third-highest in the sport, trailing only Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans and Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs.

For context, the largest buyout ever paid to a fired coach was to Jimbo Fisher, the former head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies, who received $77.5 million. In the case of DeBoer, if he were to be dismissed "without cause," he would receive 90% of his remaining contract amount in monthly installments until the end of the contract term.

Finebaum has repeatedly expressed his expectation that Alabama will make a strong comeback in 2025. He said he believes the Crimson Tide will win nine or more games and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, which would alleviate some of the pressure on DeBoer.

Alabama's season begins with a significant road game against the Florida State Seminoles at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.

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

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