Alabama not judged only against SEC peers. They’re judged against Alabama’s past – This setback to Oklahoma didn’t impact anything right away in Alabama’s long season. The Crimson Tide will still play in the Southeastern Conference championship game if they win the Iron Bowl. They are still on track for the College Football Playoff as well. Alabama would fix a lot of the short-term harm it did to its playoff seeding by winning the Iron Bowl and then winning in Atlanta.
In a different way, this 23-21 turtling up at Bryant-Denny Stadium changed everything. That’s because everything about Kalen DeBoer’s second season at Alabama is based on how people see him and how he feels, and how he looks like he could be Nick Saban’s heir. Losses like this hurt the mood and change people’s minds because Alabama fans will say that Saban wouldn’t have lost this game, as GOATs become immortal after they retire. It doesn’t matter if Saban lost two games in his second season at Alabama or that he started losing games like this in the last few years of his career.
This setback put a stop to the idea that DeBoer can’t lose at home, or he’s become a scary force of destruction in a scary suit. When Alabama turns the ball over four times and loses a game in which it gained almost twice as many years as its opponent, he’s just a guy in a black hoodie. This loss eroded the goodwill DeBoer had established throughout an eight-game win streak, because the price for coaching Alabama is knowing a single loss can negate several wins on the scales of balance. Alabama not judged only against SEC peers
Alabama isn’t just compared to other SEC teams.
In the grand path of Alabama’s season, this setback to Oklahoma didn’t instantly impact anything. The Crimson Tide will still play in the Southeastern Conference championship game if they win the Iron Bowl. They are still on track for the College Football Playoff as well. Alabama would fix a lot of the short-term harm it did to its playoff seeding by winning the Iron Bowl and then winning in Atlanta.
In a different way, this 23-21 turtling up at Bryant-Denny Stadium changed everything. That’s because everything about Kalen DeBoer’s second season at Alabama is based on how people see him and how he feels, and how he looks like he could be Nick Saban’s heir.
Losses like this poison vibes and taint perspective, because Alabama supporters will convince themselves Saban wouldn’t have lost this game, because GOATs become invincible in retirement. Never mind Saban dropped two games in his second Alabama season or Saban did start periodically losing games like this in the final few years of his tenure.
This setback ended the notion DeBoer cannot falter at home, or he’s become a terrifying force of destruction in a menacing garb. When Alabama turns the ball over four times and loses a game in which it gained almost twice as many years as its opponent, he’s just a guy in a black hoodie. This loss eroded the goodwill DeBoer had established throughout an eight-game win streak, because the price for coaching Alabama is knowing a single loss can negate several wins on the scales of balance. Alabama not judged only against SEC peers
The Iron Bowl in two weeks will become the biggest game of DeBoer’s career. Auburn’s record shows it’s one of the SEC’s weakest teams, and still everything I know about the Iron Bowl tells me the Tigers will fight at Jordan-Hare Stadium as if life itself is on the line and not simply Alabama’s postseason fate. An Alabama triumph would restore some order and respond to some angst. A loss would fire a powder keg. Two successive seasons of missing a 12-team playoff would change the DEFCON level.
This setback also singed the idea of Ty Simpson capturing the Heisman Trophy. Simpson is the best guy going for an offense that lacks ground support, but confronted with solving one of the nation’s greatest defenses, Alabama’s quarterback produced two turnovers and no fourth-quarter magic.
Saban said on “College GameDay” Alabama’s lack of balance made it vulnerable. The offensive line doesn’t exert control. Every Saturday when Saban imparts wisdom words on a TV set, he provides a visible reminder to everyone watching he’s no longer Alabama’s coach. Alabama not judged only against SEC peers
On Alabama’s best day, it could beat most of the teams that’ll qualify for the playoff. On a blunder-filled day like this one, it might lose to practically any playoff club. “Really disappointed in the outcome,” DeBoer remarked. “We played a lot of great snaps out there, but, the turnover battle, obviously got killed there. That became the game.”
That, and a missed field goal that altered Alabama’s fate. We were dumb if we assumed a second Alabama loss wasn’t eventually coming while it negotiated a schedule that ranked among the nation’s hardest. Alabama keeps control of its trajectory, but the destination of a national title feels further away. In a broader sense, this is just the new way of life in the SEC. Good teams lose to other good teams every Saturday, however, at Alabama, coaches and teams are not judged exclusively against their conference colleagues. They’re measured against Alabama’s past. Alabama not judged only against SEC peers
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