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Deion Sanders is set to begin his third season as the head football coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, and this year marks a significant change as he won’t have his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, on the roster. In a recent segment on ESPN’s "First Take," sports analyst Stephen A. Smith engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with college football expert Paul Finebaum about the potential of Sanders taking a coaching position in the SEC, specifically considering him as a replacement for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama.
Alabama’s Coaching Landscape Post-Saban
Alabama, a dominant force in college football over the past decade, faced a challenging year in 2023, missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since Nick Saban’s retirement. The team ended their season with a loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl, a game that Michigan ultimately won, claiming the national championship.
"Just imagine if Deion Sanders was in Tuscaloosa," Smith began. He speculated about the impact Sanders could have had if he were coaching Alabama or even Texas A&M, emphasizing the financial backing from alumni. He also reflected on Sanders’s desire to return to Florida State, noting, "He desperately wanted to go back to Florida State. They didn’t want him."
Smith expressed his thoughts on Alabama’s performance, stating that he perceived the Crimson Tide as "considerably softer" in 2024 and suggested that they might benefit from bringing in a dynamic coach like Sanders.
The SEC and Coaching Dynamics
Smith continued, "With Florida and Alabama, I’m not sold on DeBoer. They miss Nick Saban. We all miss Nick Saban." He pointed out that Alabama’s traditional style of football—characterized by toughness and grit—seems to have softened under DeBoer’s leadership. "When you don’t have Saban, you can’t have someone who brings a finesse style of game to Alabama," he added.
He proposed that if Alabama’s season mirrors last year’s struggles, they should seriously consider pursuing a coach with Sanders’s caliber. DeBoer faces immense pressure as he leads the No. 8 team in the nation, kicking off the season against Florida State on August 30.
Sanders’s Commitment to Colorado
Despite previous speculation about Sanders being a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys’ head coaching role, it appears he is committed to the Buffaloes. His focus remains on the upcoming season and his health as he continues his journey.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
