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Kalen DeBoer/Les Miles comparison the first two years following Saban

Posted on 1/24/26 at 3:36 pm
Posted by BlackCloud
Above It All
Member since Jan 2014
4226 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 3:36 pm
Saban (LSU)
2003: 13-1
2004: 9-3
Les Miles (LSU)
2005: 11-2
2006: 11-2


Saban (Bama)
2022: 11-2
2023: 12-2
Kalen DeBoer (Bama)
2024: 9-4
2025: 11-4

What grade would you give DeBoer following the GOAT?
I would give him a C.

Bama fans seem to be giving him some slack, so I'm curious to know what grade they would give him.
This post was edited on 1/24/26 at 4:29 pm
Posted by Tuscaloosa
13x Award Winning SECRant user
Member since Dec 2011
50577 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 4:15 pm to
B+ seems fair. Dealt with a transfer portal that was the Wild West after Saban’s retirement - completely different than what was in place this year.

Brutal schedule this year, but improved the record, finished 7-1 in the SEC against that brutal schedule, and continued to recruit at an elite level.
This post was edited on 1/24/26 at 4:17 pm
Posted by BlackCloud
Above It All
Member since Jan 2014
4226 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 4:56 pm to
quote:

B+ seems fair.

I gave him a C mainly because he has lost a few games each year where Bama was heavily favored and seemed unmotivated and not focused.


quote:

Dealt with a transfer portal that was the Wild West after Saban’s retirement - completely different than what was in place this year.

Fair point.


quote:

Brutal schedule this year, but improved the record, finished 7-1 in the SEC against that brutal schedule

The FSU loss to start the year was another loss where Bama was heavily favored and the team didn't look motivated or focused.

The losses to UGA and Indiana were just ugly and not competitive.

Thanks for the honest response!
Posted by TriStateAreaFootball
Member since Dec 2024
1849 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 4:58 pm to
Alabama - 62
LSU - 22

under Deboer

I imagine LSU would trade.
Posted by 304tiger
West Virginia
Member since Jan 2022
2192 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:01 pm to
I guess Bama's standards are changing... pretty drastically
Posted by VFL67
Member since Feb 2025
1140 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:01 pm to
I’ll be honest Saban left him a wreck with Milroe. It was a losing situation having to play him. However this last year I would’ve expected Debeor to do more. So B- it is
Posted by BlackCloud
Above It All
Member since Jan 2014
4226 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:03 pm to
quote:

Alabama - 62
LSU - 22

under Deboer

I imagine LSU would trade.


Brian Kelly was 4-0 against Arky

I imagine Arky would trade
Posted by Sun God
Member since Jul 2009
50801 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:05 pm to
Did Arkansas even find a coach yet
Posted by Stidham8
Member since Aug 2018
9828 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:12 pm to
quote:

B+ seems fair. Dealt with a transfer portal that was the Wild West after Saban’s retirement - completely different than what was in place this year. Brutal schedule this year, but improved the record, finished 7-1 in the SEC against that brutal schedule, and continued to recruit at an elite level.


Lost by 56 combined points to UGA and Indiana.
Posted by BlackCloud
Above It All
Member since Jan 2014
4226 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:12 pm to
quote:

Did Arkansas even find a coach yet

I don't want to derail my own thread but I think they hired another G5 Chad Morris type.
Posted by 3down10
Member since Sep 2014
39364 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:13 pm to
quote:


Bama fans seem to be giving him some slack, so I'm curious to know what grade they would give him.


Our problems started under Saban, not DeBoer. Regardless of what fans want to believe, Saban wasn't getting the best assistants towards the end, and he himself had lost a lot of the intensity and discipline he had the previous decade. He had gotten soft, former players talk about it and he even has admitted it.

Not to mention the completely different environment. No transfers for Les, no big change in systems, etc.

Not really a valid comparison.
Posted by 3down10
Member since Sep 2014
39364 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:14 pm to
quote:


Lost by 56 combined points to UGA and Indiana.


6 in a row is why you are nut swinging Georgia.

This post was edited on 1/24/26 at 5:14 pm
Posted by TriStateAreaFootball
Member since Dec 2024
1849 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:14 pm to
quote:

I don't want to derail my own thread but I think they hired another G5 Chad Morris type.

We at least hired one with a winning record this time.
Posted by New Money
Athens, GA
Member since Jun 2023
3873 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:14 pm to
I'm legit asking and not trying to be snarky.

Did Saban leave behind equal products at LSU and Bama? He left LSU one year removed from a championship. He left Bama three years removed from a championship that many on this board claim deserves an *.

He left behind Milroe at Bama.
Posted by WG_Dawg
Member since Jun 2004
89809 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:20 pm to
quote:

He left behind Milroe at Bama.


In 2023 milroe won the sec
Under deboer milroe lost 4 games


There's no way to give Deboer anything above a C considering he's lost 8 games in 2 years. That hasn't been done in over 20 years. The portal isn't a valid excuse considering everyone in America has to deal with it.
Posted by Sun God
Member since Jul 2009
50801 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:21 pm to
Are you saying what I think you’re saying?
Posted by New Money
Athens, GA
Member since Jun 2023
3873 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:22 pm to
I felt Miroe was misused, but I also think he wasn't up to the caliber of his immediate predecessors at Bama.
Posted by New Money
Athens, GA
Member since Jun 2023
3873 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:23 pm to
quote:

Are you saying what I think you’re saying?


I have no idea as I don't know what you think I'm saying.
Posted by BlackCloud
Above It All
Member since Jan 2014
4226 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:25 pm to
quote:

Our problems started under Saban, not DeBoer. Regardless of what fans want to believe, Saban wasn't getting the best assistants towards the end, and he himself had lost a lot of the intensity and discipline he had the previous decade. He had gotten soft, former players talk about it and he even has admitted it.


Yeah-I agree but he was so damn good that he still finished 11-2 and 12-2 and finished both years ranked 5th in the AP.

quote:

Not to mention the completely different environment. No transfers for Les, no big change in systems, etc.

Not really a valid comparison.

While I agree it's totally different and Saban set LSU/Les up for a great run-he hardly left the cupboard bare for Kalen.

Kalen still had a team both years that were easily in the top 5 of composite talent.
Posted by YStar
Member since Mar 2013
19963 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 5:32 pm to
Les Miles got to keep full stocked teams while Kalen got routed by transfer portal and NIL money buying up talent from Texas and the B1G.
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