Weather may be the biggest storyline hanging over Alabama’s showdown with Georgia this weekend, and it could turn Tuscaloosa into a mess. The tropical system in the Gulf is expected to become Hurricane Isaias as it reaches land, and rain and wind are both likely to show up for the highly anticipated game.
James Spann said on Tuesday that postponement could end up being an option, though a move to Athens would be unlikely because Alabama would not want to give up the revenue from a home game. The expectation right now is that the game gets played in Tuscaloosa - just possibly in a rainstorm.
On the recruiting front, Alabama has jumped into the mix for JUCO edge Hayden Lowe, a former Top 100 recruit who signed with Miami out of high school before transferring after one season and spending this year at a junior college in California. Tennessee is among the other schools chasing him, but Alabama is firmly in the race and has set an official visit for October 24, when the Crimson Tide host Texas A&M.
Back on the field, Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb addressed the workload of freshman running back EJ Crowell after the Mississippi State game. Crowell had only three carries in Alabama’s 33-point win, but he made them count with 49 yards and one explosive run.
Grubb said the young back is still learning the offense and working his way into the game plans, but made clear how much the staff values him: "He's still growing into the game plans," Grubb said. "There's parts that are difficult at times to have him on the field when he doesn't have the whole offense down.
But he's getting there, and he's fighting his tail off to learn. ... He's wildly effective when the ball is in his hands."
At quarterback, Alabama’s Keelon Russell is already drawing loud praise from NFL Draft circles. Todd McShay talked up Russell on his podcast this week, saying the freshman looks like a real No. 1 overall type after just five starts.
McShay went even further with the comparison: “I’ve given one 99 grade in my entire career," McShay said. "That was Andrew Luck.
Keelon Russell is the first one where I’m like, that guy’s on a trajectory, in modern football, in today’s NFL, to get the only other grade of 99.”
There was also a notable update on Alabama basketball, where Aden Holloway is back with the Crimson Tide after completing the second-chance program and having his felony charges dropped. Alabama also put the roster back on its website Tuesday.
Holloway will still sit out the first two regular-season games and all three exhibition games, beginning with Thursday night’s exhibition against Furman. The regular-season games he’ll miss are Sam Houston on 11/3 and Arkansas State on 11/6.
In Other News...
Alabama-Georgia GameDay Plans Just Changed Because Of The Weather
With Hurricane Isaias approaching, Alabamas biggest pregame stage is getting a change of scenery. ESPNs College GameDay will still roll into Tuscaloosa for the matchup with Georgia, but the shows set is being moved inside Coleman Coliseum instead of its usual outdoor spot, turning a familiar Saturday tradition into something a little less predictable.
James Spann, the longtime Alabama weatherman, is scheduled to join the broadcast early with an update on the conditions that forced the move. The show begins at 8 a.m. CT on ESPN, and former Alabama player Bryce Young will handle guest picker duties, giving the Tide crowd plenty to watch before kickoff even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Herbstreit Sees A Different Alabama Team Ahead Of Georgia Showdown
Kirk Herbstreit sees a version of Alabama that looks different from the one fans got used to during the Nick Saban era, and the changes he pointed to are the kinds that matter most in October. Under Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide have opened the 2026 season 5-0, and Herbstreit said the team has looked healthier, more balanced in the running game and sturdier on both lines of scrimmage while the defense has also taken a step forward.
With Georgia next, the conversation around Alabama is shifting from adjustment to proof point, and Herbstreit praised DeBoer for sticking with his own coaching style even with the pressure that comes with the job. The bigger question now is whether this altered version of the Tide can carry those improvements into a game that will say a lot about just how real the early surge has been. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Backcourt Depth Already Facing An Early Concern
Alabamas backcourt depth took an early hit this week when Nate Oats said guard Anderson Diaz will be sidelined for about a month after suffering an elbow injury. The good news for the Crimson Tide is that surgery wont be needed, and the plan now shifts to rehab as the staff works to get him back by early November.
Diaz is a recent addition to Alabamas 2026-27 roster after reclassifying, so the setback comes before he has even had a chance to settle into the programs future plans. It is not a long-term issue, but it is still an unwelcome one for a team that values guard depth and wants to keep building continuity in the backcourt. [Read more 🡒]