Greg McElroy describes what it would mean if Alabama loses three games in 2024

With three national championships in the past decade, Alabama has perhaps the highest standards of any program in the country. On Thursday, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy revealed what it would mean for the Crimson Tide if they lost three games in the regular season.

“There will be alarm bells and sirens going off because I think people look at the standard,” McElroy said. “The standard is the standard. I don’t think it’s changed just because Nick Saban is no longer there. It’s Kalen DeBoer‘s team now but the expectations remain high.”

It’s a nearly impossible task to fill Saban’s shoes. After taking over the reins in 2007, Saban led the Crimson Tide to six national championships, including three titles in the College Football Playoff era.

He nearly added another trophy to his collection last season, falling to Michigan in overtime in the CFP semifinal. The 72-year-old head coach also won a national title at LSU prior to his time in Tuscaloosa.

Saban won 201 games at Alabama — tied with Vince Dooley (Georgia) for the second-most wins at a single school in SEC history. Saban only trails Bear Bryant, who won 232 games in his 25 seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Although it won’t be easy, McElroy believes DeBoer has the potential to carry on the winning tradition Saban set at Alabama.

“The good news is Kalen DeBoer comes in, having done more with less his entire career,” McElroy said. “He’s won at least 10 games in eight of his nine college seasons as a head coach. The lone exception was COVID because they played six games.

“Kalen DeBoer has been able to get it done, and since he took over in Tuscaloosa, the expectations are still going to remain high because they still have a lot of really good players.”

A few of those really good players are quarterback Jalen Milroe, linebacker Deontae Lawson and offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor. Not to mention, Alabama added several standout transfers, including former USC cornerback Domani Jackson and former Washington wide receiver Germie Bernard.

Nonetheless, Alabama’s schedule will be grueling. With Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Oklahoma each on the schedule, Alabama won’t have a moment to rest in the 2024 campaign. McElroy believes a three-loss season wouldn’t be a complete failure.

“Their schedule is brutal,” McElroy said. “It’s extremely, extremely difficult, and the reaction will be strong in the event which they lose a couple games you don’t expect them to. But still, even with that many losses, with the expanded field format, they still have a chance to go win the whole thing.”