Alabama opens its 2026-27 season Tuesday night against Sam Houston at Coleman Coliseum, and one question already hanging over the Crimson Tide is simple enough: who gets the final shot when the game is tight?
Nate Oats was asked that exact thing earlier today, and his answer started with the obvious name before broadening into a few more possibilities. If Alabama wants a clean look, Oats said Aden Holloway is the first player he thinks of.
“If I could get a wide open shot with anyone on the team, Holloway doesn’t miss.” Oats said.
“He can make some tough shots too, but I don’t think there’s one guy on the team this year that we can say is getting the ball. When we had Brandon Miller we kind of knew, game was on the line at South Carolina, go to overtime.
Come in start to draw something up and Brandon just says like ‘just give me the ball.’ Yes sir, we can get you the ball, he sends it to overtime.
We do have guys that don’t shine away from the big moments. Holloway is one of the best shooters in the country, Amari is going to be one of the best overall players in the country.
Qayden Samuels is extremely tough to guard coming down with the ball in his hands, Cole Cloer’s got decent size and can knock down shots. So kind of depending on what the opponent has for defensive guys, we play some of these teams with those quick jitterbugs so you may want to run something different.
It’s good to have different options.”
That answer fits the way Alabama is built heading into the season. The Tide reloaded through recruiting and the transfer portal, and several newcomers are expected to make an immediate impact. Holloway will miss the start of the year, while Amari Allen is being counted on for a big jump in his second season after a strong opening to his freshman year.
Holloway’s numbers from last season back up why Oats went there first. He averaged 16.8 points and 3.8 assists in 28.4 minutes per game, and his shooting gives Alabama a late-game weapon it can trust. With Labaron Philon Jr. gone, Holloway could be positioned to take on an even larger role once he returns.
Oats’ comments also made clear that Alabama may not be a one-man answer in crunch time. Allen, Samuels and Cloer all got mentions as players who can handle pressure in different ways, giving the Tide multiple options depending on the matchup and the defender in front of them.
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 🡒]