Alabama walked out of last weekend with more than just a loss. The Crimson Tide left Athens with their first blemish of the season, and now the trip to Tennessee has taken on a very different feel.
Kalen DeBoer’s team fell to Georgia, 20-17, and the defeat dropped Alabama to 5-1 heading into a tough road test against the Volunteers. The final score made it look like a competitive defensive night, but Alabama was gashed for 455 yards and could not slow Georgia’s rushing attack.
That problem only gets sharper now. Tennessee comes into the matchup ranked second in the SEC in rushing, which puts Alabama in the middle of another physical battle after getting pushed around by the Bulldogs.
On paper, the Tide still look like the better team. They should win this game. But Saturday in Knoxville is turning into the kind of matchup that shows what Alabama is really made of.
The reason is simple: this loss changed the margin for error.
Alabama made the College Football Playoff with three losses last season, but that came in what was widely viewed as a controversial selection. The Tide cannot count on that kind of path again, especially not with one loss already on the board and a schedule that doesn’t offer many chances to build back up.
After Tennessee, Alabama’s remaining slate includes just two ranked opponents: No. 22 LSU on Nov. 7 and No.
14 Tennessee this Saturday. There’s also a real possibility that Georgia shows up again in the SEC Championship Game, but that’s not a guarantee Alabama can plan around right now.
The key for the Tide is obvious. Win in Knoxville, and the season opens back up. An 11-1 regular season and a shot at the SEC title would be right there.
Lose, though, and Alabama would be in a far more dangerous spot, with its playoff path suddenly looking a whole lot thinner. The expectation is still that the Crimson Tide beat Tennessee. Now the question is whether they can handle the pressure when they really can’t afford another slip.
In Other News...
Georgias Win Was Just Overshadowed By An Ugly Alabama Tunnel Incident
Georgias 20-17 win over Alabama had already packed enough drama into the night, with the Bulldogs leaning on a strong rushing effort from Dwight Phillips Jr. and Bo Walker while Gunner Stockton managed the offense with 249 passing yards and a touchdown. But the postgame mood near the stadium tunnel turned ugly in a hurry, shifting attention away from the field and toward a scene that had nothing to do with football.
Near the tunnel, an Alabama fan physically confronted Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson, slapping and shoving his helmet in an incident captured by reporter Reggie Chatman Jr. Witnesses said the fan also used a racially degrading term during the encounter, turning an already tense exit from the stadium into an incident that stood out even in a rivalry game that had plenty of edge before the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Finebaum Defends Kalen DeBoer After Alabamas Painful Georgia Finish
Georgias 20-17 win over Alabama left plenty for Tide fans to argue about, but Paul Finebaum zeroed in on the officiating more than the final score. The SEC pundit took aim at a late fourth-quarter pass interference no call, calling it a terrible decision and saying the conference office ought to explain it.
Kalen DeBoer, meanwhile, drew praise for the way he handled the situation as the calls piled up during the game. For Alabama, the frustration lingers because the finish was so tight, and because a night that could have turned on one judgment call instead ended with more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Crossed A Line After Georgia Loss
Georgias win at Bryant-Denny Stadium came with an unsavory postgame scene, as some Alabama fans hurled trash onto the field while the Bulldogs were making their way out. The videos that circulated afterward showed debris scattered in the end zone, and Georgia staffers responded by telling players to put their helmets back on for protection as they exited.
It was the kind of moment that cast a shadow over an already tense game and added another layer to the disappointment in Tuscaloosa. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer had already drawn attention for his comments about a controversial non-call during the game, and he also acknowledged his teams responsibility as the aftermath of the loss became part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]