Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer says his program is entering unfamiliar territory after dropping consecutive games for the first time since he took over in Tuscaloosa, following a 26-10 loss at Tennessee that came a week after the Crimson Tide’s first home defeat of the season to Georgia. The Kalen DeBoer Alabama back-to-back losses stretch has the coach leaning on experience and preaching focus heading into a matchup with Texas A&M.
“It’s going to be really uncomfortable,” DeBoer said after the Tennessee loss, describing the week ahead for a roster that has not had to navigate this kind of stretch under his leadership.
The Main Development: Deboer’s Message To His Team
DeBoer did not blame a lack of effort for the back-to-back setbacks. He said practice habits were not the issue and credited his players for preparing with purpose even after the Georgia loss on Oct. 10.
“It’s not like I felt like they didn’t practice. I mean, we had a lot of motivation to come back and have a great week and prepare for this week,” DeBoer said. “But, moving forward, it’s going to be even more of another level of uncomfortable.
A lot of guys haven’t been through (the) last year or the last two. I know they feel it. Our older guys had mentioned that, even weeks ago, just what it’s going to be like in this stretch.
The key is you just hone in on one game. Don’t look at the big picture. One game, and believe that we have a team that can get it done.”
DeBoer added a shorter message aimed at keeping his team grounded. “Just continue to believe that we’re going to find a way. We got to pick up and come to work,” he said.
What It Means For Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb
Alabama’s offense has struggled during the two-game slide, and questions about the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes have followed. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb remains in his role as Alabama heads into Week 8, with DeBoer’s public comments focused on team mindset and preparation rather than staff changes.
Context: A Rare Skid In The Deboer Era
Alabama has not lost back-to-back games since DeBoer arrived as head coach. The program’s last two-game skid came in 2013, when the season ended with an Iron Bowl loss to Auburn followed by a Sugar Bowl defeat to Oklahoma. The last time Alabama dropped consecutive games within the regular season was 2007, when the Crimson Tide lost four straight to LSU, Mississippi State, Louisiana-Monroe and Auburn.
DeBoer has faced this situation twice before as a head coach. At Fresno State in 2020, his team lost to Nevada and then New Mexico in consecutive weeks. At Washington in 2022, the Huskies dropped road games at UCLA and Arizona State.
Fallout From The Tennessee Loss
The Tennessee game carried additional consequences beyond the final score. The SEC fined the Volunteers $500,000 after fans stormed the field following the win over then-No. 6 Alabama, according to ESPN. Per SEC policy, that penalty money goes to Alabama.
The celebration marked the 11th straight field storming following a Crimson Tide road loss, a streak dating back to a 2013 defeat at Auburn. Tennessee has now beaten Alabama at Neyland Stadium in all three meetings the two programs have played there recently, according to Sports Illustrated. The loss followed Georgia’s road win in Tuscaloosa, which was Georgia’s first victory at Alabama since 2007 and had already reshaped the SEC title picture.
What’s Next
Alabama returns to action against Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing on ABC. DeBoer’s message to his team centers on treating that game as an isolated test rather than part of a larger narrative, a approach he says will determine whether the Crimson Tide can halt the skid before it grows into something more serious.
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