Coach Kalen DeBoer struggled to overcome the bye, much like Nick Saban.
Under legendary coach Nick Saban, Alabama Football was notoriously difficult to beat in season openers, bowl games, and coming off of bye weeks. Coach Saban might’ve been the greatest of all time at capitalizing on extra time to prepare for an opponent, and his teams almost always came out ready to play.
Though on a much smaller sample size, Coach Kalen DeBoer is building a similar track record at the FBS level.
Before taking a job at Washington as head coach, DeBoer guided the Fresno State Bulldogs to a 9-3 regular season record in 2021. That season, Fresno State defeated Wyoming 17-0 and San Jose State 40-9 in their two games following a bye week.
DeBoer performed admirably the next season despite more challenging opposition. With extra preparation time, he was incredibly effective as he guided Washington to an 11-2 record.
First, on a Friday night following their bye week, the Huskies defeated a highly regarded Oregon State team 24-21. With an extra day to prepare, Washington defeated No. 6 Oregon on the road the next week, winning 37-34. DeBoer and the Huskies defeated Steve Sarkisian’s team to end that season.
Washington performed even better in 2023, placing second nationally with a 14-1 record. The Huskies defeated Texas again in the Sugar Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal), defeated Oregon again in a top-10 game following a bye, then blasted Boise State 56-19 on opening day.
What does this signify for the Alabama Football team currently led by Coach DeBoer? It’s challenging to determine. Whatever DeBoer was doing during his extended prep time on the West Coast should pay off in the big leagues of SEC football, hopefully.
To be honest, the opposition from Alabama will most likely be ready. With more preparation, Coach Kirby Smart, a former assistant to Coach Saban, may beThe Georgia Bulldogs of Smart will be
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