As Alabama football goes about its search for Nick Saban’s replacement, after the head coach retired on Wednesday, several names have been thrown around in public. One of those is Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer.

DeBoer and the Huskies just finished their season in the national championship game. Here’s why he would, and wouldn’t, be a serious candidate for the Alabama job.

Why DeBoer?

DeBoer led a Washington program back from the near-dead in just two seasons. The Huskies went undefeated through the Pac-12, winning a conference championship and the Sugar Bowl before dropping the national title game to Michigan.

He has the ability to win. He also has the right agent, Jimmy Sexton, a college football kingmaker who built his empire representing Saban.

It’s been reported that DeBoer has had an extension on the table at Washington, but hasn’t signed it. Perhaps he plans to see what the market looks like.

The Huskies are also entering the Big Ten. While that comes with perks, it also means his schedule is about to get much more difficult.

Washington’s standing in the new conference won’t be known for a bit. Alabama is a tough job, but that’s because it has been parked at the top of the SEC for the better part of two decades.

Why not DeBoer?

Washington remains a very good job. The Huskies are heading to the Big Ten next season, meaning the power conference status, and the money that comes with it, will be available in Seattle.

The Huskies don’t have the expectation of contending for a national championship every single year. Alabama does.

Being the man to succeed a legend isn’t an easy task. Most coaches fail, and when you’re compared every day to one of the best to ever do it, things can get scary fast.

In many ways, the Alabama job is more of an unknown than Washington’s Big Ten position. What does the job look like without Nick Saban in it?

DeBoer surely knows he’s in a good situation. Especially if he can turn the Crimson Tide job into a huge raise from UW, perhaps he’d rather stick around there and see what he can build.