7x national champ Nick Saban offers sound advice to Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama amid 5-2 record

The start of Kalen DeBoer's tenure at Alabama has been quite rough. After dropping two of its last three games, the Crimson Tide now sit at (5-2) as they prepare for a crucial matchup against Missouri. The pressure in Tuscaloosa is mounting, with expectations as high as ever for the team.

On ESPN’s "College GameDay" Saturday morning, former Alabama coach Nick Saban weighed in on the program's state under DeBoer. Saban, who led Alabama to six national titles, offered some advice.

Saban emphasized that for Alabama to succeed, the team needs to focus on the basics by cutting down on mental errors and blocking out distractions.

“Alabama has to worry about getting back to playing to a standard," he said. "If they play to a standard with the talent they have, they can come out on top. They may be worried about outcomes instead of playing one play at a time.”

Saban's message is clear: Alabama still has the tools to compete at an elite level, but they must return to their winning mentality. Saban believes they will be able to turn their season around.

Before Alabama’s matchup against No. 21 Missouri, Saban picked his former team, ranked No. 15, to come out on top.

Kalen DeBoer is appreciative of Alabama staff

Meanwhile, SEC Network has brought its spotlight to Tuscaloosa for the home game, with coach Kalen DeBoer making an appearance on "Marty & McGee."

When asked about whether he carries his small-school mentality into Alabama, DeBoer expressed gratitude for his staff’s contributions.

“I think the piece that I carry with me is the appreciation for all the people I have around me who are doing a lot of the jobs that I also had to do when I was a football coach and how important they all are to the culture that we’re trying to build,” DeBoer said.

Alabama faces Missouri in crucial Week 9 matchup

Alabama is set to take on Missouri in the Week 9 contest, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are eager to bounce back after a tough 24-17 loss to No. 7 Tennessee last week, which marked their second defeat in three games.

Now sitting at 5-2, Alabama will aim to regain momentum and keep their SEC title hopes alive.

The Tigers, on the other hand, currently ranked No. 21, are coming off a narrow 21-17 victory over Auburn last weekend. With a 6-2 record, Missouri is looking to maintain its momentum and solidify its position in the SEC standings.

Both teams will look to make a statement as they approach the critical stretch of the season.