What's next for Alabama? Explaining questions surrounding Kalen DeBoer, Ty Simpson and more in 2026

What's next for Alabama? Explaining questions surrounding Kalen DeBoer, Ty Simpson and more in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alabama's 2025 season came to an anticlimactic end on Thursday afternoon. The Tide fell 38-3 to the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, in one of the worst playoff appearances for Alabama in recent years. 

Although the Tide managed to beat Oklahoma in the first round, losing by 28 points in the quarterfinal puts a sour end to the year. The three points Alabama put up is the lowest output since in its six appearances in the CFP era. 

Now that the book is closed on Alabama's 2025-26 season, let's take a look at what's next for head coach Kalen Deboer, quarterback Ty Simpson and the rest of the Tide in 2026. 

MORE:Lowest scoring Alabama games in CFP history

Who will be Alabama's QB in 2026?

That likely depends on what incumbent Ty Simpson decides to do. The signal-caller's season was cut short against Indiana in the Rose Bowl. After taking a big hit that forced a fumble late in the second quarter, Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer benched him.

The decision appeared to be at least partly medical, as early in the second half, ESPN sideline reporter Kris Budden reported that while Simpson was trying to warm up, coaches determined he was not healthy enough to return to the game.

Simpson is a redshirt junior who backed up both Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa. He is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft and could declare. The NFL Mock Draft database projects Simpson as a first-round pick, going No. 20 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Simpson, who threw for 3,500 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, had a strong first year as a starter. You could make the case for him to go pro, but you also can’t blame him for returning to Tuscaloosa to get another full season under his belt and possibly improve his draft stock, which dipped due to his late-season struggles.

If Simpson does leave, the Tide have a few options at quarterback. His backup is Austin Mack, who initially played under DeBoer at Washington. The former 4-star quarterback prospect out of Folsom, Calif., originally signed with the Huskies' 2023 class before following DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. After Simpson’s injury, Mack had a modest debut, going 11-of-16 for 103 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Alabama also has former 5-star quarterback Keelon Russell from its 2025 class, and the Tide signed 4-star quarterback Jeff Thomalia to its 2026 recruiting class.

MORE:Why Alabama QB Ty Simpson was pulled from Rose Bowl

Will Ryan Williams transfer after regressing this season?

As of now, it appears that Williams will remain with the Tide. In the days leading up to the Rose Bowl, he told  AL.com that he's "Alabama through and through." He added that he has "no intentions of being anywhere else." 

"I had a lot of ups, people considered last year, and just learning how to deal with those, and I've had a lot of downs, people considered this year, and I've learned how to deal with those," Williams told ESPN at media day before the Rose Bowl. "Really just an opportunity to stay human and have empathy for others, because I've been through some things. It's been a blessing to go through all the ups, all the downs, all the arounds."

Williams being speculated to transfer isn't too much of a surprise. He had a breakout season as a true freshman in 2024, getting 48 receptions 865 yards with eight touchdowns last season. But in 2025, Williams finished with just 43 receptions for 643 yards and four touchdowns. The sophomore is second nationally in highest percentage of drops (14.3) with 10 on the season. 

MORE:Indiana, Curt Cignetti shred rest vs. rust narrative in Rose Bowl

Will Kalen DeBoer seat get hot?

Kalen DeBoer is in his second season with Alabama, compiling a 20-8 record with the Tide over two seasons.

Despite the impressive record and a playoff appearance this season, it hasn't all been sunshine and roses with the head coach and Alabama fans from the jump. In fact, it's been a roller coaster. DeBoer appeared to be on the hot seat after Alabama’s 2024 finish, which came in just his first season at the helm. The Tide seemed on track for a College Football Playoff bid last season, with one-score losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee entering late November.

That changed with an embarrassing 24-3 road loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 23, which knocked Alabama out of playoff contention. The Tide then fell 19-13 to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl to finish 9-4. Alabama opened the 2025 season with a 31-17 Week 1 road loss to Florida State.

DeBoer worked his way back into fans’ good graces as the season progressed. Alabama beat then-No. 5 Georgia 24-21 on the road Sept. 27, then added wins over ranked Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee. The Tide later lost 23-21 on the road to Oklahoma but rebounded with a win over Auburn to clinch a spot in the SEC championship game.

Against Georgia in Atlanta, Alabama turned in an abysmal performance. In the 28-7 loss, the Tide were held to minus-3 rushing yards and just 209 yards of total offense, finishing 3-for-14 on third down. The showing was so poor that many expected Alabama to be left out of the CFP.

Instead, the committee awarded Alabama a bid, and the Tide went on the road to face Oklahoma. Despite falling behind 17-0 early, they stormed back to win 34-24, briefly restoring DeBoer in Alabama fans' good graces. However, the 38-3 Rose Bowl loss quickly erased that goodwill. If Alabama gets off to a slow start in 2026, DeBoer will likely be under intense scrutiny again.

Tide fans’ fickle opinions are a big reason DeBoer was linked to the open Penn State and Michigan jobs. Expect his name to surface again in the 2026 coaching carousel if things remain unsteady in Tuscaloosa. With Thursday's loss, DeBoer's Alabama teams have dropped to 0-7 when trailing at halftime.

Alabama 2026 schedule

Here's a look at Alabama's schedule for 2026: 

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