Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama faces former team Indiana in playoff showdown
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will face his former team, Indiana, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The matchup comes after a season of highs and lows for the Crimson Tide, who now aim to pull off an upset as seven-point underdogs in this NCAA football game.
DeBoer’s coaching career began with stops at Sioux Falls, Fresno State, and Indiana before he took over at Washington. There, he compiled a 25-3 record over two seasons, including a national title game appearance. His success earned him the Alabama job, where he replaced a struggling programme.
His first season in Tuscaloosa saw Alabama miss the College Football Playoff for the first time in years. The team finished with its lowest AP Top 25 ranking since 2007. A disappointing loss to unranked Florida State by 14 points marked a rough start to this campaign.
But DeBoer turned things around. Alabama’s defence, led by coordinator Kane Wommack, now ranks third in the SEC for points allowed. The team has since won eight straight games, including a victory over then-No. 5 Georgia. That momentum has carried them into the playoffs, where they now prepare for a showdown against Indiana in this college football game.
DeBoer was briefly linked to the Michigan coaching vacancy but has reaffirmed his commitment to Alabama. A win over his old team would send the Crimson Tide into the semifinals and further cement his reputation as one of college football’s top coaches.
An Alabama victory would mark their first semifinal appearance under DeBoer. The result could also reshape perceptions of the programme after last season’s struggles. For now, the focus remains on overcoming a tough Indiana side in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
