The next time Kalen DeBoer guides his Alabama football team through the Walk of Champions, it will be just hours before the highly anticipated Top-5 showdown between the Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs. This game will serve as a major benchmark for both this Alabama squad and, fair or not, for DeBoer as well.
It marks DeBoer’s first true test as Nick Saban’s successor and his first chance to face a ranked opponent. First impressions are crucial—perhaps too much so. A loss to Georgia could prompt at least part of the fanbase to question whether DeBoer is the right fit for Alabama and whether Jalen Milroe should remain the starting quarterback. Even against a powerhouse like Georgia, Alabama fans expect nothing less than victory. Falling short isn’t an option.
Though this will be DeBoer’s first high-profile clash at Alabama, he’s no stranger to big games. He guided Washington to the National Championship game last season, only to fall to the same Michigan Wolverines who knocked out the Tide in Pasadena.
So how has Kalen DeBoer performed in Top-10 matchups throughout his career?
2022
In Kalen DeBoer’s debut season at Washington in 2022, the Huskies faced only one Top-10 opponent but went up against three other ranked teams, including 11th-ranked Michigan State.
On November 12, DeBoer led his 25th-ranked Huskies into a road matchup against No. 6 Oregon as 13.5-point underdogs. Behind a stellar 400-yard passing performance from Michael Penix, Washington erased a 34-27 deficit with just 3:54 remaining.
Penix connected with Taj Davis for a 64-yard touchdown to even the score at 34, and Oregon, in a questionable decision, gambled on a 4th-and-1 deep in their own territory. Washington stuffed the attempt, and Peyton Henry kicked a 43-yard field goal with less than a minute to go. The Huskies’ defense held firm, and DeBoer secured his first signature win at Washington.
The Huskies went on to defeat all three other ranked teams they faced in 2022, beating No. 11 Michigan State in September, edging out No. 23 Oregon State the week before the Oregon win, and capping the season with a victory over No. 20 Texas in the Alamo Bowl.
2023
In 2023, Washington faced seven ranked teams and emerged victorious in the first six, showcasing Kalen DeBoer’s knack for winning big games.
Against Top-10 opponents, Washington began by hosting No. 8 Oregon in October, once again as two-touchdown underdogs at Husky Stadium. Just like the previous year, the Huskies mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, helped by another questionable fourth-down decision from the Ducks. Trailing 33-29, Washington stopped Oregon on a critical 4th down, and two plays later, Michael Penix connected with Rome Odunze for an 18-yard touchdown, putting Washington ahead 36-33 with 1:38 remaining. Oregon missed a last-second field goal, sealing the victory.
Many thought Washington’s win over Oregon was a fluke, but when the two teams met again in a rematch, the Ducks were favored by 9.5 points. However, Washington prevailed yet again, winning by three points for the third consecutive time against Oregon. While the Huskies led for much of the game, they blew a 20-3 lead and entered the fourth quarter trailing. Washington responded with two punishing touchdown drives of 10+ plays to secure the Pac-12 title and punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.
In the semifinal, DeBoer’s Huskies faced another Top-10 team in Texas, entering as 3.5-point underdogs. Washington pulled off a 37-31 upset to advance to the national title game. Although their undefeated run against Top-10 teams ended with a loss to Michigan in the championship, DeBoer holds an impressive 4-1 record against Top-10 teams.
DeBoer has similarly thrived against Top-25 opponents, boasting a 12-2 career record. One of his two losses came while coaching at Fresno State, where he also notched road wins against ranked UCLA and San Diego State in 2021. DeBoer went 10-0 against ranked teams at Washington before the loss to Michigan in the title game.
DeBoer has shown that he excels in high-stakes games. While the SEC may present a new level of intensity, DeBoer is accustomed to being the underdog, a role Alabama will likely take on when Georgia visits Tuscaloosa. You can be sure DeBoer will have his team ready and in the best position to succeed.
