Last year, Alabama football didn’t exactly bully people at the line of scrimmage. This season, Kalen DeBoer says that edge is no longer missing - it’s the foundation.
That showed up in a 56-23 win over Mississippi State inside Davis-Wade Stadium, where the Crimson Tide controlled the game with movement up front and a much more effective run game than they had at times in 2025. Alabama ran for 179 yards against the Bulldogs, while the defense held Mississippi State to just 18 rushing yards and added five sacks.
DeBoer has rebuilt a big part of the front with new personnel, and that’s part of why the identity looks different now. Almost every starter on both the offensive and defensive lines is either new to the program or a first-year starter, and DeBoer believes the group has settled into what he wants Alabama to be.
“I think we are very strong team physically,” DeBoer said. “When we execute, that’s a lot of it, I think that’s the difference right now is guys executing, playing confident, trusting each other, then they can cut loose the ability that they have physically to go out there, and whether it’s taking a guy down to the ground or breaking tackles, obviously blocking at the point of attack and just the physicality up front; our guys are taking pride on both sides of the ball with what that looks like.
And so, I know it’s become an identity for us. We talk about it every single day, and those guys are believing.
Today, I thought we went out there and cut it loose.”
The linemen weren’t the only ones showing it. Alabama’s tight end group has become a real factor in the run game, and Danny Lewis Jr. and Jay Lindsey drew attention online for their work against Mississippi State. Those clips keep popping up week after week, and they’ve become part of the story of how Alabama is winning the battle at the point of attack.
The backs joined in too. Freshmen Trae’shawn Brown and EJ Crowell delivered physical carries in the win, adding another layer to what Alabama is trying to build.
Next week, that physical identity gets its biggest test yet.
In Other News...
Kirby Smart Just Validated Alabamas Identity Ahead Of Georgia
Alabama has spent the season leaning into a physical identity, and that reputation is starting to travel well beyond Tuscaloosa. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has repeatedly pointed to the strength of the defensive line and the groups effort as core traits for this team, a profile built as much on strain and toughness as it is on talent. That kind of image matters in a league where line play and grit usually decide whether a contender can hold up when the schedule gets heavy.
Kirby Smart reinforced that view this week ahead of Georgias meeting with Alabama, acknowledging the Crimson Tides size and physicality while also nodding to the way the roster has been built through recruiting and the transfer portal. Smart also singled out quarterback Keelon Russell for the progress he has made, a notable compliment considering how closely these teams will be studying every edge. For Alabama, the recognition is useful, but it also serves as a reminder that its identity is now clear enough for a rival to see and respect. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense Keeps Giving Kane Wommack A Reason To Pay Up
Kane Wommack has built a small but telling tradition around Alabamas defense, rewarding the staff with a Sunday-night dinner whenever the unit finds the end zone or posts a shutout. It is a lighthearted perk, but it also speaks to how much the coordinator values the people around him and the work that goes into producing those kinds of game-changing moments.
The latest tab came after cornerback Dijon Lee turned an interception into a touchdown against Mississippi State, another reminder that Alabamas defense has been creating reasons for Wommack to keep reaching for the check. Wommack said he appreciates the staffs hard work and the chance to sit down together, which makes the gesture feel less like a gimmick and more like part of the programs rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama-Tennessee Just Got A Twist Fans Will Be Talking About
Alabamas next trip to Knoxville is already on the calendar, and the details around the 2026 matchup with Tennessee give the Third Saturday in October some added shape. The Tide are set to visit Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026, with a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff and television information to be announced later, while the broader backdrop is the long-running history between the programs and the recent pattern of how their meetings have been handled.
What makes the scheduling note even more interesting is the jersey arrangement attached to the 2026 and 2027 games, a wrinkle fans will have plenty of time to circle. For now, though, Alabamas attention is on the present, with Georgia coming to Tuscaloosa for a home game that is expected to draw plenty of notable attendees, even as the future date with Tennessee starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]