"Nick Saban would have never lost that game": Paul Finebaum questions Kalen DeBoer's capabilities after shocking Vanderbilt loss

The Kalen DeBoer-coached Alabama Crimson Tide suffered their first loss of the 2024 college football season when they were defeated by the Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 6.

At the end of the game, CFB analyst Paul Finebaum had a lot to say about the former Washington Huskies head coach.

Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show:

"Well, we all saw a new head coach in Alabama named Kalen DeBoer, who, after all the praise he got here last week, showed that the coach Nick Saban era is over because Nick Saban would have never lost that game."

The veteran analyst continued:

"And people talk about the Louisiana-Monroe game, you know, (Saban) inherited a 6-7 team. This is the worst defeat I have ever seen by a quality Crimson Tide team. I have seen bad Alabama teams lose … but I have never seen a great Alabama team lose like this, and it is sending shockwaves through the Crimson Tide ecosystem right now."

What happened to Alabama in Week 6?

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a shock loss to the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 6. The win was so iconic for the Commodores fans that after the game, they stormed onto the field, danced, yanked off a goalpost, and carried it out of the stadium.

Sedrick Alexander scored two rushing touchdowns, Randon Fontenette converted a pick-six, and quarterback Diego Pavia outplayed Jalen Milroe, leading Vanderbilt to a stunning 40-35 win over the country's top-ranked team.

Before the game, Vanderbilt had lost all 60 games against AP top-five teams. The Commodores hadn't beaten the Crimson Tide in 40 years, but the occasion didn't faze their 2024 lineup.

They snapped a 23-game losing streak by scoring the first 13 points of the game and never looking back.

What's next for the Kalen DeBoer Alabama Crimson Tide?

Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide must pick themselves up and focus on a visit from the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 7. The Gamecocks are coming off a blowout loss to the Ole Miss Rebels, so the Tide must be careful to get back.

The Alabama Crimson Tide game will be the second in a four-game span in which the Gamecocks face AP Poll-ranked opponents. After the Crimson Tide, they'll play the Oklahoma Sooners and round up their month with a home game against the Texas A&M Aggies.