The last time a Kalen DeBoer-coached team lost two games by mid-October, his Washington Huskies suddenly went on a tear. DeBoer and No. 9 Alabama would love a similar run of sustained success after a dominant road win over then-No.

Alabama football has its traditional non-conference game before closing out the SEC schedule this week. The Crimson Tide faces Mercer Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, in a game it will be expected to win handily.

As Alabama football begins its final stretch of the 2024 regular season, athletic director Greg Byrne said he has been impressed with Kalen DeBoer.