The Alabama Football Nation has spent months reflecting on the reality of losing its air of inevitability. This stark realization was fully grasped following a loss to Vanderbilt. The era of Nick Saban’s Alabama dominance has ended, leaving uncertainty about the future of the program. While there are a few things we can confidently believe, there are also doubts that linger.
One thing remains clear: Alabama will bounce back. However, this does not mean a return to the unstoppable success Nick Saban once established. With college football now defined by parity and the Transfer Portal facilitating annual roster overhauls, the gap between the SEC’s top teams and the rest of the conference has significantly narrowed.
Yet, Alabama fans refuse to use parity as an excuse. What cannot be denied is that a loss to Vanderbilt is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. Comparisons have been drawn between this defeat and Alabama’s 2007 loss to ULM, but these losses are not alike. The situations inherited by Nick Saban in 2007 and Kalen DeBoer in 2024 are vastly different, as are the quality of the teams. Both Alabama and Vanderbilt in 2024 are far superior to the Alabama and ULM teams of 2007.
So, what can we conclude about Alabama’s future in 2024? Historically, a loss to Vanderbilt often signals a challenging season. During the SEC Network broadcast, Alabama’s 1976 loss to Vandy was mentioned, though the correct history shows Alabama has lost to Vanderbilt six times, dating back to 1951. Three of those losses (1951, 1955, and 1956) were suffered by undeniably weak Alabama teams. The 1969 team, though just a few years removed from national championships, ended the season 6-5. In 1984, Alabama lost again to Vandy, finishing that season 5-6.
While history doesn’t forecast a bleak future, it does suggest that Alabama may need a reset. The team is likely not as strong as the one that beat Georgia nor as weak as the one that lost to Vanderbilt. Alabama fans are right to question whether defensive flaws are correctable. Should Kalen DeBoer make drastic changes to his coaching staff? Maybe. Probably. Absolutely not? The answers remain uncertain. DeBoer’s honeymoon period is over, but it’s too early to conclude he lacks solutions. Until he finds them, it’s fair for Alabama fans to believe there are more questions than answers.
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