Kalen DaBoer – Syndication Server

Alabama football just outside Top 10 in new US LBM Coaches Poll after Saturday upsets

Here’s how far Alabama climbed in the new US LBM Coaches Poll, released Sunday following the Crimson Tide’s bye week.

The Alabama Crimson Tide moved up three spots to No. 11 in the new US LBM Coaches Poll rankings, released Sunday after Week 10’s action. While the Crimson Tide (6-2) had a bye week, three teams ranked ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s team suffered a loss on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide jumped ahead of the Clemson Tigers, Iowa State Cyclones and Texas A&M Aggies in this week’s poll. Alabama is ranked one spot below the Indiana Hoosiers (9-0) at No. 10. The Tide are also the highest-ranked two-loss team.

The LSU Tigers, Alabama’s next opponent, also rose three spots (to No. 13). The Tide and Tigers will face off next Saturday in Baton Rouge. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. The game can be seen on ABC.

The Oregon Ducks (9-0) remained No. 1 for the third consecutive week after their 38-17 win over the Michigan Wolverines, with the Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) at No. 2 following their 34-20 rivalry win over the Florida Gators in Jacksonville.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) moved up one spot to No. 3 after handing the Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) their first loss of 2024, 20-13 in Happy Valley. Penn State dropped four spots to No. 7.

The Miami Hurricanes (9-0) rose one spot to No. 4 in the coaches poll. The Texas Longhorns (7-1) climbed one spot to No. 5.

Also in the SEC, the Tennessee Volunteers (7-1) rose one spot to No. 6. Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels (7-2) had the biggest jump of any ranked team, climbing six spots to land at No. 12 following their impressive 63-31 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The full Week 10 US LBM Coaches Poll rankings are below.

Week 10 US LBM Coaches Poll

Rank	Team	Record	Points
1	Oregon Ducks	9-0	1,349 (53)
2	Georgia Bulldogs	7-1	1,267 (1)
3	Ohio State Buckeyes	7-1	1,245
4	Miami Hurricanes	9-0	1,194
5	Texas Longhorn	7-1	1,138
6	Tennessee Volunteers	7-1	1,039
7	Penn State Nittany Lions	7-1	982
8	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	7-1	961
9	BYU Cougars	8-0	918
10	Indiana Hoosiers	9-0	916
11	Alabama Crimson Tide	6-2	772
12	Ole Miss Rebels	7-2	657
13	LSU Tigers	6-2	653
14	Boise State Broncos	7-1	615
15	SMU Mustangs	8-1	603
16	Texas A&M Aggies	6-2	518
17	Clemson Tigers	6-2	513
18	Iowa State Cyclones	7-1	511
19	Army Black Knights	8-0	404
20	Washington State Cougars	7-1	284
21	Kansas State Wildcats	7-2	201
22	Missouri Tigers	6-2	192
23	Pittsburgh Panthers	7-1	178
24	Colorado Buffaloes	6-2	124
25	Vanderbilt Commodores	6-3	85

Schools Dropped Out

No. 24 Illinois; No. 25 Memphis

Others Receiving Votes:

Tulane 38; Louisville 38; South Carolina 33; Louisiana 27; Syracuse 24; UNLV 17; Arizona State 17; Minnesota 14; Iowa 13; Memphis 5; Illinois 3; Texas Tech 1; James Madison 1

Nick Saban reaffirms support for Kalen DeBoer after recent Alabama struggles

Check out what Nick Saban had to say about Kalen DeBoer ahead of Alabama’s Third Saturday in October matchup with Tennessee.

During an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday afternoon, former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban talked about the transition for first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Saban joined McAfee from Austin ahead of Saturday’s top-5 showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns. Among other things, Saban remained complimentary of DeBoer and said that the coach had to be himself and do things his own way.

“I do think that this is a tough transition for Kalen, any time you take over a successful program,” Saban said. “I don’t want to be judgmental about what they do because I think he has to do what he does his way. He can’t be me. He can’t try to be somebody that he isn’t.”

DeBoer came to Tuscaloosa after a successful two-year coaching stint in Seattle with the Washington Huskies, a team he led to the College Football Playoff National Championship last season.

Before Washington, DeBoer coached at Fresno State for two seasons (2020-21) and guided the Bulldogs to a 10-win campaign in 2021 and an appearance in the New Mexico Bowl before accepting the Washington job.

Previously, as head coach at Sioux Falls at the NAIA level, DeBoer led the program to three national championships in five seasons from 2005-09.

“I think the guy has been successful, and I think his way will work,” Saban said of DeBoer. “I just think it’s an adjustment for a lot of the fans and the people, but I think he will win them over because he’s a good guy and he’s a good coach, and he’s got a good system and a good organization.

“I’m just trying to be supportive and helpful any way that I can so that he can make a smooth transition.”

Saban mentioned the transfer portal and the impact it had on Alabama’s roster after his retirement in January.

“I think one thing that doesn’t get acknowledged is the fact that when I retired, there were 26 players that transferred. Nobody talks about that,” Saban said. “(Wide receiver) Isaiah Bond, who is a pretty good player, he would be an impact player if he was still at Alabama, especially with some of the players they have now. Then (offensive tackle Kadyn) Proctor leaves, and then he comes back.

“Caleb Downs. Look, I looked at all the guys in the Draft last year because I did the Draft (for ESPN). He was a freshman, and if he was a junior or senior in the draft, he would’ve been probably the first safety taken in the draft. That’s a pretty significant player. So, they really lost a lot and people don’t talk about that. Now, they got a few guys in, but I do think there is going to be a transition. He’s got to get his people in there and he’ll get the opportunity to recruit them and do it.”

Alabama (5-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) is ranked No. 7 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. The Crimson Tide are in Knoxville this weekend for the annual Third Saturday in October clash with the Tennessee Volunteers. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. The game can be seen on ABC.

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