Kalen DeBoer experienced his first defeat as head coach of the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, as the Vanderbilt Commodores pulled off a stunning 40-35 upset. This loss comes after Nick Saban, who led Alabama for 17 seasons, left following last season’s Rose Bowl. Saban dominated Vanderbilt in his four matchups with them, winning all of them handily. His defense only gave up 13 points across those four games—27 fewer than the 40 allowed under DeBoer.
After the upset, Nick Saban’s daughter, Kristen, shared an Instagram story reflecting on her father’s retirement. In her post, she wrote, “Me going to bed tonight knowing I don’t have to take these games personally anymore,” alongside a selfie of herself in an Alabama shirt.
DeBoer, while facing the challenge of living up to Saban’s legacy, had a strong start, including a significant win over the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 5. However, the loss to Vanderbilt is a notable blemish. Despite this, Alabama’s playoff chances remain alive with the new 12-team format, and the team, currently 4-1 and 1-1 in the SEC, will return to Tuscaloosa to face the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 7.
Nick Saban, who retired after a 206-28 record with six national championships and nine SEC titles at Alabama, now serves as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay.” His 206 victories at Alabama place him second only to Bear Bryant’s 232. Saban’s coaching career also included stints at Michigan State, LSU, and a brief time in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
