BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The final stretch for Alabama football is close. Kalen DeBoer knows it. He's excited about it. But he knows what comes with it.
DeBoer began Alabama 's second off week with an appearance at the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club. Alabama football is off Monday, he said, and will return to the weight room and "do some things" Tuesday before a return to practice Wednesday, 11 days before what a widely-viewed College Football Playoff win-or-go-home road date against LSU on Nov. 9 .
"Whether that is what it is or not, that's how we're going to approach it," DeBoer said, "even though we really don't need to say too much in regards to that."
DeBoer doesn't need to say much. The numbers speak loudly enough.
After Alabama's 34-0 win against Missouri on Saturday, ESPN gives the Crimson Tide a 53% chance to make the CFP. If Alabama falls to LSU , the Crimson Tide's CFP chances fall to less than 1%.
It's a test DeBoer said started immediately after the Tennessee loss, and that Alabama "passed the first test" against Missouri.
The LSU approach is not unique for Alabama, DeBoer said. It's how he said the Crimson Tide is approaching each of its final four games against LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma and Auburn .
But LSU is first. That is where the pressure lies.
"The pressure is naturally going to be there for every game," DeBoer said. "We can't put added pressure on ourselves. We just got to go out and play, be our best. That comes from confidence in the prep and the work that you put in."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Kalen DeBoer, Alabama football are approaching off week before LSU game
