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Nick Saban just gave Michigan fans extra hope for their Kalen DeBoer dream

It sure feels like the door has been opened.
Braulio Perez
Braulio Perez

GBMWolverine

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban at the college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025. / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the coming days, there's hope that some clarity will come in with regards to the Michigan coaching search. Sherrone Moore has been fired and the search is on for a new leader of the program. Enter Alabama head man Kalen DeBoer?

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That's what a lot of people in Ann Arbor are hoping for, though DeBoer has said he's not interested in other jobs and he's not talking with anyone else. Leave it to Bama legend Nick Saban to open the door a little bit for something to happen.

While speaking on College GameDay, Saban turned plenty of heads by saying DeBoer is beloved all over Tuscaloosa. However, he also raised some eyebrows when he seemingly opened the door for Michigan to make a move if it wants to. Wait, what?

Nick Saban leaves the Kalen DeBoer to Michigan door open with new comments

Why even bring up Michigan here? Is there something Saban knows that we don't? Again, there's just a ton of speculation right now, but the fact of the matter is that there's certainly been plenty of buzz about DeBoer leaving Tuscaloosa if an early CFP exit arrives.

Also, let's not forget that DeBoer previously said he wasn't going to leave a job (Washington), only to bail not longer after (Alabama). Don't rule out seeing something similar going down in the coming weeks just yet. DeBoer is a great coach, no question.

If Warde Manuel were to pull off a stunner and poach him from the SEC powerhouse, it of course would not come cheap at all. With that said, there are people who are convinced that DeBoer would be worth every penny if he makes the move to the Big Ten.

Again, this is all just speculation and no one knows what's going to happen. In addition to DeBoer, Kenny Dillingham is a top target as well. Depending on what happens with Alabama against Oklahoma, the DeBoer rumors could reach a new level, or cold water might be thrown all over it. Stay tuned.

Braulio Perez

Braulio Perez

Braulio Perez is an NCAA Content Director for FanSided, joining Minute Media in 2017 after 2.5 years at the Newark Star-Ledger as a high school sports reporter and 2.5 years at the Lynden Tribune as sports editor. While with the Lynden Tribune, Perez was named the Sports Writer of the Year in 2012 for his division by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. At the Star-Ledger, he also assisted in coverage of college football recruiting. Perez's focus has been on college football recruiting, high school sports, the NFL, NCAA and English Premier League. He is also a regular contributor for 247Sports' Cougfan.com.