Paul Finebaum Speculates On Alabama’s 2024 Record Without Nick Saban

Paul Finebaum weighed in on how the Alabama Crimson Tide will do without Nick Saban calling the shots. He made his prediction on the latest edition of The Paul Finebaum Show.

During the offseason, the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer, the former head coach of the Washington Huskies. DeBoer led Washington to the national championship in his final season in Seattle.

One caller asked Finebaum about Alabama's performance in 2024. Finebaum recently spoke with Tuscaloosa News reporter Nick Kelly, who said the Crimson Tide could go 9-3 this season.

Finebaum agreed with Kelly and discussed how DeBoer may be unable to pick up where Saban left off.

"...Alabama could go 9-3. That's not difficult. You have a road game early on at Wisconsin," Finebaum said. "I think Alabama will win, but that is not an absolute with a new program. New program's often have some miscommunications and they can make mistakes."

Alabama's schedule is not easy by any means. Finebaum counted at least five games that could give the team trouble in the fall.

Kalen DeBoer speaks during an Alabama Crimson Tide spring practice in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News/USA Today Network

"You've got the Georgia game, in which Alabama will be an underdog. You're at Tennessee. You have Missouri," Finebaum said. "At LSU. Oklahoma. I see one, two, three, four, five, really five games that could be really close calls. So, I think there's a lot there."

The DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa kicks off against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Aug. 31. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.