If you need a refresher, Alabama went 9-4 in DeBoer's first season as Nick Saban's replacement, which included losses to Vanderbilt and a 6-7 Oklahoma Sooners team. It was the worst Alabama season, on paper at least, since Saban's first year back in 2007.

On Wednesday morning, the Alabama Crimson Tide took center stage at 2025 SEC football media days in Atlanta, Georgia, as head coach Kalen DeBoer took to the podium, along with three players.

SEC football media days continue on July 15, with Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Auburn making appearances. Follow along here for live updates

The Bulldogs had a miserable first season under coach Jeff Lebby, finishing 2-10 and losing by 24 points against Toledo. The only wins came against FCS Eastern Kentucky and UMass as the program posted one of the worst defenses in the nation. Coming in Year 2, Lebby is optimistic that change is on the way.

That confidence seemed to rub off on the national media. On the SEC Network set the next day, former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy made a bold statement about the Tigers going into the season. “The dark horse [in the SEC] is Auburn,” McElroy said.