Alabama’s first availability report for LSU week didn’t settle much of anything.
When the SEC released its initial injury lists on Wednesday night, the Crimson Tide still looked like a team waiting on answers after a bruising bye week. Kalen DeBoer has been upbeat about the possibility of getting key pieces back for Saturday’s trip to Baton Rouge, but the report itself left plenty of uncertainty hanging over Alabama.
Five starters were tagged as questionable: wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, cornerback Zabien Brown, center Racin Delgatty, left guard Will Sanders and defensive tackle Terrance Green. Freshman running back EJ Crowell, who leads Alabama in yards per carry, was also listed as questionable.
There has been reason for optimism around several of those names. Yhonzae Pierre gave a strong indication Tuesday that Green would be available, and Rico Scott offered a similar hint about Coleman-Williams. Practice video also appeared to show Delgatty snapping the ball and taking reps.
Brown, Sanders and Crowell feel a little less certain.
Sanders had tightrope surgery on his ankle, and if he can’t go, Alabama would likely turn to Mal Waldrep at left guard - assuming Delgatty is healthy enough to play center. If Delgatty is also unavailable, Waldrep would slide to center for the third straight game, with sophomore Kaden Strayhorn next in line at left guard.
The expectation is that at least some of the questionable players will suit up, but how effective they’ll be is another matter.
Brown’s status matters most against an LSU passing game that can stretch a defense. Alabama has already had a rough time getting steady play from the corner spot, with sophomore Dijon Lee struggling and Mercer transfer Carmelo O’Neal not doing much better in his chances.
Chuck McDonald picked up more work on the outside before the Texas A&M game, though he had to move back inside to Husky after Red Morgan was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. It remains to be seen whether McDonald would stay outside this week, even if Brown is cleared.
Coleman-Williams is another name Alabama badly wants back. Even if he’s not at full speed, he still changes how defenses have to line up and creates room for other receivers to operate.
Green may be the most important of the group when it comes to Alabama’s overall chances. Since he left the Georgia game in the second quarter, the Tide’s run defense hasn’t looked the same.
Crowell’s presence would matter too. He’s Alabama’s most explosive back, and if the Tide is going to get anything going on the ground, having him available would help.
Even with everyone healthy, this is a brutal assignment in Baton Rouge. If any of these questionable players can’t make it, Alabama’s job gets even tougher.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Got Pulled Into The Alabama Tennessee CFP Fight
The latest College Football Playoff rankings have only sharpened the debate around Alabamas place in the field, and now Mississippi State has been pulled into the conversation by association. The selection committee put Alabama at No. 5 and Tennessee at No. 13, even with Tennessee owning the head-to-head win, and CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek said the gap came down to Alabamas collection of quality victories against ranked opponents.
For Alabama fans, the takeaway is clear enough: the committee is rewarding resume depth over a single game result, and that makes every ranked opponent the Crimson Tide have beaten feel more valuable. Tennessees case still has its own appeal because the losses have come in close games against ranked teams, but the broader message from the committee is hard to miss, and it leaves the SEC race with another layer of intrigue as the rankings keep sorting themselves out. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads To LSU With One Road Problem Still Looming
Alabama heads into Week 10 with a top-15 showdown at LSU carrying the kind of road question that tends to follow a good team until it gets answered. Kalen DeBoers group has handled the season well enough to stay in the national conversation, but the trip to Baton Rouge brings a different test, especially with LSU also sitting among the countrys best and the spotlight on a matchup that has plenty of weight beyond the standings.
The coaching subplot adds another layer, with DeBoer and Lane Kiffin set to meet for the first time and DeBoer still unbeaten against LSU. On the other side, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt will have to navigate an Alabama defense that has made life difficult for opponents, and the Crimson Tides ability to keep its offense steady away from home may end up being the detail that decides whether this one feels like a statement or another reminder that the road still has work left to do. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas CFP Ranking Just Sparked A Debate Tide Fans Will Feel
Damien Harris did not hide his surprise when the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings dropped Alabama at No. 5, especially with the loss to Tennessee still hanging over the rsum. The former Crimson Tide running back, now a CBS analyst, voiced the kind of reaction plenty of fans around Tuscaloosa likely had when the bracket picture first came into focus.
Hunter Yurachek, who chairs the College Football Playoff committee, pointed to Alabamas quality wins against Kentucky, South Carolina and Mississippi State as the reason the Tide landed that high despite the setback in Knoxville. It is the sort of early ranking that can fuel a long debate, because Alabamas place near the top says as much about what the committee values as it does about the one loss everyone keeps circling back to. [Read more 🡒]