Alabama showcased a strong start, reminiscent of their typical dominance under coach Nick Saban, during the opening minutes against SEC rival Georgia. However, the 15th-ranked Crimson Tide has since shown signs of struggle, displaying a mix of costly penalties, inaccurate throws from quarterback Jalen Milroe, and a defense that has been frequently exposed.
The latest setback came in the form of a 24-17 defeat against No. 7 Tennessee, pushing Alabama’s record to 5-2 and their SEC standing to 2-2. This marks the first time since Saban’s inaugural season in 2007 that Alabama has suffered multiple losses prior to November. The upcoming game against No. 21 Missouri (6-1, 2-1) looms large, as another defeat might effectively knock the Tide out of contention for the revamped 12-team playoff format.
Alabama’s ranking—now the lowest for the team since 2010—reflects their struggles. That year was notable as it was the only season in a 16-year stretch during which the Tide lost three games. Milroe emphasized the need for a determined mindset in the wake of the Tennessee loss, stating, “We’ve got to have a starving mindset…want to be the best version of ourselves, want to be the best offense in the country.”
Since their impressive 28-0 lead against Georgia, Alabama has been outscored 123-92. While they managed to edge past Georgia with a dramatic 41-34 victory, highlighted by a critical late 75-yard touchdown pass to freshman Ryan Williams, followed by an interception from fellow freshman Zabien Brown, the euphoria was short-lived as they would soon lose to Vanderbilt, 40-35.
Coach Kalen DeBoer stressed the importance of minimizing mistakes after the loss to Tennessee. He remarked, “You can’t have the mistakes, you can’t have the penalties, got to have better execution. All those things put you behind the eight-ball throughout the course of the game. In the SEC, there’s such a fine line between winning and losing, and that’s how you get beat. That’s on all of us.”
Injuries are compounding Alabama’s challenges, with cornerback Keon Sabb sidelined due to what DeBoer described as a lower-body injury. He indicated that the recovery process may take considerable time, requiring ongoing evaluation.
Alabama’s struggles have been evident in several key areas:
– The team committed 15 penalties for a total of 115 yards against Tennessee, a critical error late in the game came when Kendrick Law received a personal foul penalty, forcing the Tide into a fourth-and-22 situation that they could not convert. “It’s a big moment. We’ve got to ensure we address these mistakes, especially those within our control,” DeBoer stated.
– Milroe’s performance has notably declined after a promising display against Georgia. In the subsequent three games, he managed only three touchdown passes against five interceptions and has accumulated a mere 57 rushing yards—largely due to sacks.
– In a narrow win against South Carolina, Alabama had to rely on Domani Jackson’s interception at the goal line that secured a 27-25 victory, despite the Gamecocks converting all five of their third downs during a pivotal scoring drive in the third quarter.
– Alabama’s offense struggles to effectively distribute the ball to players other than Williams, who was heavily targeted during the Tennessee game. He racked up eight catches for 73 yards on 18 targets, while fellow receiver Germi Bernard had five receptions for 72 yards, with no other receiver managing a target on a play that did not draw a penalty.
In their rushing attack, neither Jamarion Miller nor Justice Haynes has surpassed 45 yards in any SEC contest.
Looking ahead, Alabama will face only one ranked opponent following the Missouri match, as they prepare to journey to No. 8 LSU on November 9.
“There’s so much more football left,” Milroe asserted, underscoring the potential for the Tide to turn their season around.