Alabama’s offensive line came out of Lexington with something it had been chasing since the offseason began: proof that the group is starting to settle in.
The Crimson Tide were tested last Saturday against a Kentucky front that brought real heat, even with Michael Carroll unavailable. There were still pressures.
There were still pre-snap penalties. But Alabama’s second half told the bigger story, as the Tide piled up 150 rushing yards and looked like a unit that was beginning to trust itself.
“That’s kind of just what we expect now. We kind of expect ourselves to do that.
We’re not really shocked by it, I guess,” left tackle Jackson Lloyd said. “I’m super proud of everyone, but, like, that’s what we want to do every game.”
That kind of confidence is a major shift for a group that spent the offseason under a harsh spotlight after a very underwhelming 2025 season. Alabama brought in offensive line coach Adrian Klemm to remake the room, and four new starters came with that overhaul. The goal was straightforward: build cohesion early, then let consistency show up on Saturdays.
“I think ever since fall camp, really, we’ve kept on building, and we’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re getting there,” Lloyd said. “It’s going to take more time. It’s gonna take more work, but, like, we’re on the right track.”
Carroll’s absence put extra weight on the two starting guards, William Sanders and Mal Waldrep. The pair had already spent all of fall camp battling at left guard, and the competition for the full-time job still seems open to some degree. Both, though, handled the added responsibility in Lexington and took steps toward showing they can string together complete games.
“I thought they did great,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “I think Mal is one of those guys that you can plug and play, and he’s an excellent communicator.
He’s tough. He’s physical.
He showed up in the run game, and he is a confident kid. Just in how he plays, he doesn’t get overwhelmed in the moment.
And I thought him being able to do that, and a big tip of the cap to Will to be able to jump over and play on the right side, you know, I thought the guys didn’t miss a beat.
“Very impressed with how they’re able to establish that and just get the communication down with the tackles, because it’s not just one guy being out. Now all of a sudden, you’ve got to make a big decision about two pieces moving, not just one, and that’s a big deal up front. But they did awesome.”
The real stress test still sits ahead. Alabama will see some of the nation’s best front sevens later this season, with Lloyd’s matchup against South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart in two weeks standing out, along with a four-game midseason run against Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU.
For now, though, the message inside the room is about stacking days and refusing to get comfortable.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction,” Lloyd said. “We’ve had two decent games rushing, but I mean, obviously, we’ve got room to get better.
Like I was saying, we want to keep taking steps to the next level. No one’s getting complacent around here.
No one’s thinking we’re good enough yet. We gotta keep coming there every day, working, working towards that goal we have in mind.”
In Other News...
Alabamas Real Standing Is Getting A Very Different Early Verdict
Early-season rankings rarely agree on much, and Alabama is already a good example. While the AP Poll has the Crimson Tide at No. 10, several computer models see something closer to a top-tier national contender, with Bill Connellys SP+, Brian Fremeaus FEI, Kenneth Masseys ratings, Jeff Sagarins rankings and ESPNs FPI all slotting Alabama somewhere between No. 3 and No. 10, depending on the formula. Some of those projections even make Alabama the SECs highest-rated team, which is a very different read than the one coming from voters.
The split is especially noticeable because these systems are also still sorting out the rest of the schedule, and the teams on Alabamas slate are bouncing around quite a bit in the same models. That kind of early variability is normal, but it also means the Tides true standing may be a moving target for a while. For now, the computers are signaling that Alabamas profile looks a lot stronger than a No. 10 label suggests, even if the season is still young enough for every ranking to feel provisional. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Entered A Tough Fight For A Hometown Commit
Alabamas 2027 class is already taking shape with 14 commitments, but this cycle looks different from some of the bigger, pricier hauls the program has signed in the past. With the staff putting more emphasis on keeping its current roster intact, the Tide have been more selective on the recruiting trail, even as they continue to identify targets they want to push for later on.
One of those targets is Joshua Lane, a 3-star defensive lineman from Memphis who recently picked up an Alabama offer. Lane is already committed to Memphis and has drawn interest from several other Power Four programs, which makes him a tougher local pull than a typical under-the-radar add. Alabama is also expected to ramp up its work in the 2028 cycle, which already carries a strong national standing, but Lanes recruitment is a reminder that even in a smaller class, the Tide are still willing to enter a fight for a player they believe is worth the effort. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Faces The Stretch That Will Define Its Playoff Hype
College footballs playoff picture is already starting to sort itself out, and Notre Dame is right in the middle of the conversation after stacking enough early-season buzz to be viewed as a real factor in the bracket race. The committees eventual choices will still hinge on how the biggest names handle their conference slates, but the Irish have positioned themselves well enough that every remaining week carries meaning, especially with so many national contenders still trying to separate from the pack.
Miami, Georgia, Ohio State and Texas all bring their own cases, and each has a path that could reshape how the top of the field looks once the dust settles. For Notre Dame, the focus now shifts to the stretch that will tell the story of its playoff credibility, because the rsum can look impressive in September and October, but the final judgment usually comes from how a team answers the toughest part of the calendar. [Read more 🡒]