Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer speaks out on Penn State rumors

Kalen DeBoer shot down any rumors that he is thinking about bolting for Happy Valley. 

With his name in the mix for Penn State’s coach opening, the Alabama head coach sounded off on the chatter during a press conference ahead of Saturday’s SEC Championship game against Georgia.

“We’re extremely happy at Alabama,” DeBoer said on Thursday. “We’re extremely happy here, love the challenge, love the grind, love this place, and there’s never been any link [to Penn State], there’s never been any conversation, there’s never been any interest either way. So I’m glad we can put that to bed right now.”

With the coaching carousel running wild, DeBoer’s name was floated around the rumor mill as a possible replacement for James Franklin, who was fired in October after 12 seasons. 

Given Alabama’s high standards, it’s been a so-so showing for DeBoer in Tuscaloosa since being hired by the school in 2024 to replace the legendary Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. 

Last season, Alabama went 9-4, its worst showing record-wise since 2007, Saban’s first season, falling short of the College Football Playoff. 

After beating Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday, the Crimson Tide moved to 10-2 (7-1 SEC) and secured a spot in the SEC Championship game. 

A win in that game will guarantee Alabama a spot in the CFP. 

If Alabama had lost the Iron Bowl, one of the two sides could have decided to go their separate ways, but with the Crimson Tide on track, DeBoer, who has gone 56-15 overall in his coaching career, appears to have found a home for now. 

DeBoer’s name is far from the first or only name reportedly looked at by Penn State brass. 

The school has targeted BYU’s Kalani Sitake, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, among many others, before being spurned by the coaches.