Disrespecting Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is quickly becoming one of the most glaring failures of the college football season, and it speaks to a broader problem with how polls, narratives, and expectations shape the sport. After Alabama’s blowout loss to Florida State, the Crimson Tide plummeted all the way to No. 21 in the AP Poll, their lowest ranking since 2008, while Ohio State leapt into the No. 1 spot. On paper, the reasoning seems simple: a dominant loss often comes with consequences. But college football isn’t just about what happens in one game—it’s about program strength, coaching track record, player development, and the bigger picture of how a team rebounds. That’s where so many are missing the mark with Alabama and especially with head coach Kalen DeBoer, who deserves far more respect than what these numbers suggest.
The idea that Alabama is suddenly a middling team because of one difficult night against Florida State doesn’t hold water when you consider the program’s pedigree, DeBoer’s history of building winners, and the realities of transitioning into the post-Nick Saban era. This is not some rebuilding job that resembles a once-proud dynasty fading into obscurity. DeBoer was brought in precisely because of his proven ability to take programs to the next level and keep them nationally relevant. At Washington, he demonstrated a knack for maximizing talent, out-scheming elite opponents, and instilling belief in his roster. If anything, the loss to Florida State shows how high the bar is for Alabama—they’re still expected to dominate at all times, even with a brand-new head coach, new systems being installed, and young players stepping into the spotlight. Few programs get judged this harshly this quickly, and yet Alabama is paying that price.
Criticism of the AP Poll isn’t new, but the response to this particular ranking drop has been unusually sharp. Many insiders and fans have called it “garbage,” not just because Alabama lost, but because of the way the poll seems to overreact to one result while ignoring context. Florida State is an elite program in its own right, loaded with talent, speed, and a coaching staff that has built momentum for years. Losing to them, even in a blowout, is not the same thing as losing to an unranked or struggling team. The fact that Alabama still has one of the deepest rosters in the country, arguably the most balanced offensive line and defensive front in the SEC, and a head coach who has already proven he can climb mountains makes it ridiculous to suddenly treat them like a borderline top-25 team.
Consider what this says about how the sport evaluates teams today. Ohio State moving up to No. 1 is understandable—they’ve been dominant in their own right, beating Texas and Oregon in decisive fashion. But does Alabama really deserve to be pushed this far down the ladder because of one performance? Are we suddenly supposed to believe that 20 other programs in the nation are better positioned than the Crimson Tide? If you took names and reputations off the jerseys, would voters honestly feel that way? Probably not. This is where the subjectivity of the polls becomes a problem, because narrative drives perception, and perception drives rankings.
DeBoer, of course, knew this was coming. Replacing Nick Saban was never going to be easy. Every stumble will be magnified, every loss will be treated like a catastrophe, and every misstep will raise questions about whether Alabama’s golden era is officially over. But if you listen to the players, watch the practices, and pay attention to how the team is adjusting, you’ll see signs that the Crimson Tide are still on solid ground. DeBoer is not trying to replicate Saban—he’s building his own culture, one that emphasizes adaptability, creativity on offense, and relentless pursuit of improvement. Those things take time, and they don’t always show up immediately in box scores.
Poll voters seem unwilling to give him that grace period. Instead, they’re rushing to judgment, declaring the Tide unworthy of being mentioned among the nation’s elite. Yet history teaches us that Alabama is rarely down for long. Since 2008, when they last held a ranking this low, the program has done nothing but dominate the sport, collecting championships, producing NFL stars, and redefining excellence. To assume that all of that is suddenly irrelevant is shortsighted at best and disrespectful at worst.
This also speaks to a larger issue: college football thrives on storylines, and people love to see a giant fall. Alabama has been the standard for so long that every other fan base is eager to write their obituary the moment they falter. The AP Poll, perhaps unconsciously, reflects that bias. Dropping them to 21 feels like a punishment, not just a ranking adjustment. It’s as if voters wanted to send a message that the Crimson Tide’s time at the top is done, and that others are ready to fill the vacuum. But history suggests caution. Every time people count Alabama out, they come roaring back. Every time analysts say the dynasty is over, they end up eating those words.
It’s also worth considering the players’ perspective. Imagine being on this roster, working through the transition to a new coach, playing one of the toughest opening schedules in the country, and then seeing your team slide to 21 as if all the blood, sweat, and effort meant nothing. That kind of disrespect can either demoralize a team or fuel them. Given Alabama’s culture, it’s far more likely to do the latter. DeBoer will use this slight as motivation, reminding his players that respect is earned on the field and that the only way to silence doubters is to dominate week after week.
Fans should also be mindful of how quickly narratives can shift in college football. One month from now, Alabama could be sitting comfortably in the top 10 again, riding a winning streak, and preparing for another SEC championship push. Polls are snapshots, not final judgments. But when a program as storied as Alabama is involved, the reactions feel far more permanent. That’s why so many voices, from insiders to analysts to everyday fans, are pushing back against what they see as a poll gone wrong.
The bigger question is how the college football world defines success in the post-Saban era. For years, Alabama was judged only by championships. Anything less than a national title was seen as a disappointment. That bar is almost impossible for any program to meet consistently, and yet it became the expectation. DeBoer is navigating that reality now, trying to balance patience with urgency, and his critics seem unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt. But to disrespect him, his staff, and his players by treating one tough game as the end of the road is unfair to what he’s already accomplished and what he is capable of building.
Polls aside, the truth is this: Alabama is still Alabama. They still have the athletes, the resources, the coaching staff, and the recruiting pipeline to compete with anyone in the nation. One loss, no matter how lopsided, does not erase that. What it does do is highlight areas for growth, expose weaknesses to fix, and provide a roadmap for improvement. That’s how championship programs respond—not by sulking, but by getting better.
Fans should remember that college football seasons are marathons, not sprints. The early storylines rarely define the final chapters. Just as Ohio State has risen to the top by proving themselves week after week, Alabama will have their chances to climb back into the conversation. Dismissing them this early is not only disrespectful but also unwise. Because when December rolls around, and the playoff picture is coming into focus, the last program anyone wants to see surging at the right time is Alabama.
So before we write off Kalen DeBoer and his Crimson Tide, let’s take a step back and consider the bigger picture. This is a coach who knows how to win, a program that refuses to die, and a roster capable of much more than what one scoreline suggests. The polls may disrespect them now, but respect is earned on the field, and Alabama has never shied away from proving people wrong. Maybe this is just the latest chapter in a story we’ve seen before—the fall that sets up the rise, the doubt that fuels the dominance, the disrespect that ignites the fire.
And now I want to hear from you. Do you think Alabama deserves to be ranked this low after the Florida State game, or are the polls overreacting? Do you believe Kalen DeBoer has what it takes to bring the Crimson Tide back to glory quickly, or do you think this marks the beginning of a decline? Share your thoughts, your frustrations, and your predictions in the comments. This conversation is bigger than one game, and your voice matters in shaping how we view Alabama, DeBoer, and the direction of college football as a whole.
