Alabama punched its ticket to the Rose Bowl in convincing fashion, taking care of business against Oklahoma and, just as importantly, avoiding any major injury setbacks along the way. While the Crimson Tide did see two key defenders-defensive lineman Tim Keenan III and defensive back Red Morgan-leave the game and not return, the postgame updates brought a wave of relief to Tide fans everywhere.
According to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, both Keenan and Morgan’s injuries are not considered serious. In fact, Rowe reported on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt that both players could have returned to the game if needed. That’s a crucial note, especially with Alabama set to face Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Chris Fowler summed it up best during the broadcast: “Two Tide players, key defenders who left the game, Tim Keenan and Red Morgan, do not appear to have serious injuries. Could have returned tonight. So their presence for the Rose Bowl certainly is reassuring for Alabama fans.”
And reassuring it is. This Alabama defense has been a force all season, and both Keenan and Morgan have played significant roles in that success.
Keenan anchors the interior with power and discipline, while Morgan brings range and physicality to the secondary. Losing either for the Rose Bowl would’ve been a big blow, especially going up against an Indiana offense that’s shown it can move the ball and put up points.
But if there were any lingering doubts about Morgan’s availability, his postgame celebration should put them to rest. In a video shared by the Alabama Football Twitter account, Morgan is seen holding a rose and jumping up and down with his teammates-hardly the actions of someone nursing a serious injury. That visual, paired with Rowe’s report, all but confirms that Morgan will be ready to go when the Tide takes the field in Pasadena.
As for Keenan, while he wasn’t featured in the same way postgame, the update from Rowe is just as encouraging. Alabama’s decision to keep both players out for the remainder of the Oklahoma game looks to be more about caution than necessity. With the game well in hand and Oklahoma struggling to gain traction offensively, there was no need to risk aggravating anything.
Now, with nearly two weeks to rest and recover, Alabama looks poised to enter the Rose Bowl close to full strength-something every coach dreams of this time of year. And make no mistake, they’ll need all hands on deck.
Indiana brings a balanced and explosive offensive attack that can test a defense in multiple ways. Having Keenan up front to disrupt the run game and Morgan in the back end to help contain the Hoosiers’ passing game will be critical.
The Tide are rolling into Pasadena with momentum, a healthy roster (or close to it), and their sights set on something bigger. And thanks to some timely updates and a rose-filled celebration, Alabama fans can breathe a little easier heading into the New Year.