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Alabama's Kalen DeBoer Isn't Running From Nick Saban's Legacy

Kalen DeBoer knew how challenging the job he accepted would be when he left Washington to become the head coach at Alabama.

It’s never easy to replace a coach who already has a statue built in his honor in Tuscaloosa. But DeBoer replaced someone in Nick Saban who may have a strong case for the College Football Hall of Fame to be named after him.

That has given him higher-than-normal expectations as he enters Year 3 in Tuscaloosa, something he says he never has or will shy away from.

“I think you can talk about how great of a job Coach Saban did in building the program to what it is and the expectations. I just know my past experiences being part of places that have the pride and tradition on the extreme high level like Alabama has would be something I wanted to be a part of,” DeBoer reflected on Wednesday at SEC Media Days in Tampa.

“ … I understand what took place and happened here during the great times and Coach Saban leading the charge here. I also love the challenge of trying to continue to build on that and add to this program’s great history.”

DeBoer’s first two seasons leading the Crimson Tide haven’t been a debacle by any means. Alabama was the first team out of the College Football Playoff in 2024 and made last year’s CFP, winning a first-round game at Oklahoma before losing in the second round.

DeBoer is 20-8 leading the program and has a remarkable record of success most fanbases would welcome without a second thought.

But Alabama’s fanbase — fresh off nine SEC titles and six national championships in 17 seasons with Saban — is not most fanbases. And Alabama’s ignominious 38-3 Rose Bowl loss to eventual champion Indiana last season was a harsh reminder that Saban is gone and there will likely never be another him.

Alabama is still accumulating talent at an impressive rate, with its high-school recruiting classes ranking in the top three nationally in each of the last three cycles under DeBoer, according to 247Sports.

There have been some highs, including a pair of wins over Georgia. But there have also been some severe lows, which rarely happened under Saban.

With a loss at SEC afterthought Vanderbilt in 2024 and a 2025 season-opening loss to a Florida State team coming off a 2-10 campaign, it took DeBoer just 14 games to lose as many games against unranked teams (four) as Saban did in his entire tenure.

That’s more of a stat praising Saban than condemning DeBoer. And yet, it’s exactly why he may be on a slightly hotter seat entering this season than any coach should be given what he’s accomplished through two seasons at a job.

It also explains why Alabama may be a bit under-the-radar in the SEC entering 2026, with the focus on the likes of powerhouse programs Georgia and Texas, Lane Kiffin’s controversial LSU move and Ole Miss, without Kiffin, coming off a CFP semifinal appearance.

Maybe a little less national attention will be what DeBoer needs to fill what could be the world’s largest shoes in Tuscaloosa this fall.

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New England, Toronto draw in game marked by missed chances

Jul 22, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution midfielder Griffin Yow (7) dribbles the ball against Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea (22) in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution midfielder Griffin Yow (7) dribbles the ball against Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea (22) in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images

The New England Revolution played visitors Toronto FC to a scoreless draw Wednesday in Foxboro, Mass., as MLS played its first full slate of games since the World Cup.

Toronto (3-6-7, 16 points) and New England (8-5-2, 26 points) both failed to capitalize on key opportunities as the 10-point gap between them remained unchanged and Toronto remained outside the playoff picture.

Toronto’s Richie Laryea, back at his usual spot at fullback after playing for Canada at the World Cup, sent a low streaking cross immediately in front of goal only for Jules-Anthony Vilsaint to catch the ball on the wrong side of his boot in the 38th minute.

Carles Gil was quick to respond for the home side, rattling the crossbar on a powerful effort from outside the box. TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran denied Peyton Miller at the far post off Gil’s curling free kick in the dying seconds of the first half.

Revolution defender Will Sands struck his own crossbar on a bungled clearing attempt in the 59th minute, but sprung up heroically to beat Deandre Kerr to the ball in the air after Josh Sargent kept it in play.

Perhaps with fixture congestion in mind, Sargent was kept on the bench until halftime, though Toronto’s record signing injected some much-needed energy into his team’s frontline. He headed a ball inches wide on a 76th-minute corner.

Canadian youth international Richard Chukwu made his MLS debut in Toronto’s backline and went 71 minutes before subbing off with a cramp. Djordje Mihailovic, who made his first league appearance since March last Thursday, was not in the visitors’ lineup.

TFC extended their winless streak to 11 in all competitions even as Gavran recorded his second consecutive clean sheet. Toronto has yet to score or concede in two games since returning from the World Cup break.

The result marked just the second time New England failed to capture three points at home this season. Goalkeeper Matt Turner collected his fourth clean sheet on the year.

–Field Level Media

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Union topple Red Bulls for first win since April 11

Jul 22, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union forward Milan Iloski (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Red Bulls in the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union forward Milan Iloski (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Red Bulls in the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Union scored their first home win of the season in their first match under interim coach Ryan Richter with a 3-1 defeat of the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday in Chester, Pa.

Milan Iloski, Indiana Vassilev and Neil Pierre scored for the Union (2-10-4, 10 points), who fired coach Bradley Carnell a short time into the World Cup break and promoted Richter from their MLS Next Pro affiliate. Last-place Philadelphia had not won since April 11 at Montreal.

Kai Wagner had an assist in his first game back for Philadelphia seven months after the Union transferred him to Birmingham City in England. Quinn Sullivan subbed on during the second half for his first appearance since tearing an ACL last September.

Cade Cowell scored and Ethan Horvath saved seven shots for the Red Bulls (6-6-4, 22 points).

The Union were the dominant team despite controlling just 36% of the possession. They nearly scored in the third minute when Iloski made a perfect cross to Frankie Westfield in the box, but Westfield’s wide-open shot rolled out on the wrong side of the right post.

Iloski took care of matters himself in the ninth minute. Horvath dropped a saved shot while bumping his own teammate midair, which allowed Iloski to fire in the rebound for his team-high eighth goal of the year.

Near the 22-minute mark, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan fired a one-timer on goal from outside the box but Horvath pushed it over the bar.

Cowell tied the match in the 38th minute at the end of a clinical passing buildup through the midfield. Emil Forsberg took it to the penalty arc before passing to an unmarked Cowell on his right. Andre Blake (four saves) got a mitt on it, but not enough to stop the shot’s path into goal.

It remained tied at halftime and for a while thereafter, but Philadelphia broke through on a quick restart in the 57th minute. Westfield powered a cross from the right corner to the box and Vassilev’s left-footed one-timer hopped between Horvath and the near post.

The Union made the cushion more comfortable nine minutes later. Wagner hit a line-drive corner kick into a dangerous area and Pierre headed a powerful grounder under a helpless Horvath.

–Field Level Media

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Late Inter Miami strike ruins Robert Lewandowski's Fire debut

Jul 22, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Chicago Fire FC forward Robert Lewandowski (9) controls the ball against Inter Miami CF defender Facundo Mura (4) during the first half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Chicago Fire FC forward Robert Lewandowski (9) controls the ball against Inter Miami CF defender Facundo Mura (4) during the first half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Preston Plambeck scored in his fourth career MLS appearance in the 87th minute to spoil Robert Lewandowski’s MLS debut and lift short-handed Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.

Luis Suarez scored his seventh and eighth goals of the season for Miami (10-4-2, 34 points), which was playing without Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul. Both were granted leave from the club after helping Argentina reach Sunday’s World Cup final.

Puso Dithejane leveled for Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) midway through the second half, after an error from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo gifted the Fire an early lead.

Lewandowski, the former Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona star, played 62 minutes in his first MLS match for Chicago after the 37-year-old’s signing became official in late June.

But it was the 20-year-old Plambeck who made the decisive play to extend the second-place Herons’ winning streak to five matches on a night they began six points behind Eastern Conference-leading Nashville.

As he did on his second goal, Suarez combined with German Berterame to work into the penalty area.

This time Chris Brady saved the initial attempt. But Plambeck contorted his body and was able to guide the airborne rebound over the line on his first touch.

Chicago went in front when Rios Novo whiffed on a routine backpass from Ian Fray, allowing the ball to cross the goal line in the 18th minute.

Suarez’s first goal came from the penalty spot nine minutes later. Brady guessed incorrectly, but it probably wouldn’t have mattered with Suarez’s right-footed strike kissing the inside of the left post.

The Uruguayan veteran’s second arrived in the 51st minute, finishing past Brady after a give-and-go with Berterame that included Berterame’s exquisite back-heeled return ball.

Dithejane responded in the 67th minute, five minutes after his insertion during a triple substitution that also saw Lewandowski exit. Following a deflection of a rebound off Maren Haile-Selassie, Dithejane turned his body and fired a first-time finish between the diving Rios Novo and the right post.

The Fire looked more likely to break the tie for most of the next 20 minutes, but were ultimately punished for allowing Suarez into the box one more time.

–Field Level Media

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