(BCSNN) -- Alabama is the second most‑hated team in the country, according to RotoWire metrics reported by AL.com earlier this month, and head coach Kalen DeBoer doesn’t sound bothered by the ranking. In Tuscaloosa, being disliked is often viewed as a sign of relevance — a reminder that the Crimson Tide still command enough attention to irritate the rest of college football.

Alabama trails only Notre Dame on the list, a shift from the Nick Saban era, when the Tide routinely held the No. 1 spot. DeBoer, speaking with Tide 100.9 on June 25, made clear he wouldn’t mind reclaiming the top position.

“We want to be the first, the most hated, and then we don’t have to say or defend anything,” DeBoer said with a smile. “There’s a realness to it, though. There’s a way of going about it. Everyone has this quiet belief: we don’t need to talk about it; we don’t need to beat our chests over anything.”

DeBoer acknowledged the challenge of building continuity in an era defined by roster turnover, but said the fanbase’s confidence remains strong.

“The fanbase has the confidence and belief going forward,” he said. “It’s a little different in the world we’re in, with so many new players. We aren’t the only program. All these teams have a lot of turnover, change, and new faces… you’re trying to put a team together each and every year so that you can be efficient in delivering the message.”

DeBoer’s first season at Alabama ended 9–4 without a CFP berth. His second season included a CFP quarterfinal loss to Indiana, showing progress. Entering 2026, he has a chance to match Saban’s trajectory — the former Alabama coach won his first national title in his third season — though comparisons between the two are limited.

Saban built a dynasty with six national championships over 17 seasons, a run that helped cement Alabama as the sport’s most‑hated powerhouse. DeBoer now carries the responsibility of restoring that championship standard.

“We’re coaching coaches to do things; we’re coaching players because it’s what they know that matters,” DeBoer said. “You step on the field, you’re gonna make that catch, you’re gonna make that block… that high level of success when we walk into a stadium — you can almost feel it. You may not be there, you might not be present, but you can almost feel the Crimson Tide doing the Walk of Champions right now, and that’s the way I want it to be.”

This offseason, DeBoer retained offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, while adding O‑line coach Adrian Klemm, wide receivers coach Derrick Nix, and others. With players such as Ryan Coleman‑Williams, Austin Mack and Keon Sabb, Alabama has the personnel to climb back toward the top of the “most‑hated” rankings — if the on‑field results follow.

Even AL.com’s Matt Stahl noted the dynamic.

“Win more games, and people hate you more, I guess,” Stahl said. “DeBoer is just less eminently hateable, I think, than Nick Saban… he’s just not somebody you can turn into an avatar for what you hate about college football.”

Still, some see Alabama’s No. 2 ranking as a warning sign.

“My take here is that this is bad news for Alabama,” AL.com’s Ben Flanagan said. “If you’re no longer the most hated program in America, I think that means you’ve lost a step.”

Flanagan added that Alabama’s dominance under Saban — and the resentment it generated — was part of the program’s identity.

“Alabama had reached elite hated status during the Saban era… They’re trending on social media when they’re losing, when it’s a close game.”

Saban himself once embraced the dynamic, famously saying: “Mediocre people hate high achievers, and high achievers hate mediocre people.”

As Alabama enters the 2026 season, DeBoer appears ready to maintain that edge — and perhaps reclaim the top spot on a list the Crimson Tide have long considered a badge of honor.