Kalen DeBoer may have won four more games in Year 1 at Alabama last season than Hugh Freeze did in his second year at Auburn, but that doesn’t matter.

DeBoer is facing more pressure going into the 2025-26 than Freeze, according to Paul Finebaum.

“In some way, it’s really Kalen DeBoer because Hugh Freeze, for whatever reason, is still very well-liked by his constituency,” the SEC Network analyst told On3. “I think he has people believing in him, despite a fairly underwhelming two years.”

Freeze is 11-14 in his two years on the Plains.

“Hugh Freeze has done a masterful job of painting a picture of what he’s picked up from (former Auburn coach) Bryan Harsin,” Finebaum added. “DeBoer knows he can’t do that.”

The measure of success for each program is different, Finebaum contends.

“If Hugh Freeze had won 9 games, he’d have a contract extension,” he said. “Kalen DeBoer won 9 games, and it was the worst season since 2007. It’s a disaster.”

So, what would equal success for the Crimson Tide in the 2025-26 season?

“Playoff at the bare minimum,” Finebaum said. “Without going to the playoffs, I think he’s going to find himself in a world of suffocation.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.