The Alabama Crimson Tide enters the bye week with a record of 7-1, winning seven straight since the week one disaster on the road against Florida State, and though Saturday’s win at South Carolina was anything but easy, it was certainly a gutsy comeback effort.
A flat-looking performance on the road as a double digit favorite once again is cause for concern, but for what felt like the first time under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama fought back against some real adversity and found a way to win a game where they did not have anywhere near their best stuff.
The reality of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is that Alabama getting through this stretch and into the second bye with just one loss leaves them with some real wiggle room down the stretch.
In the four-team playoff era, one loss would be the absolute maximum and the pressure would be on to win out. Now, Alabama is still likely two losses away from having their season end, and they have already made it through the meat of their schedule.
Up next after the bye is a home against against an LSU team which has just relieved Brian Kelly of his duties before another home test against Oklahoma in what the Tide will hope is a third revenge game after a shocking loss last year.
The Iron Bowl of course looms at the end of November, but if Alabama can get to Jordan-Hare with just one loss, there is much less pressure and perhaps they will be able to play a bit more free and loose against an Auburn team which may or may not still have its coach in place by that time.
If it’s not clear by now, this is not a vintage Nick Saban team where virtually every game is going to be a blowout. This is DeBoer’s Crimson Tide, where even opponents who should be easily handled find a way to stick around.
This team though has been absolutely spectacular in critical moments of games this season, and that is thanks to coaching. If Alabama can continue to be at its best when the lights of the game are brightest, it does not matter how close it was, all that matters is wins and losses.
The Tide has already proven to be a legitimate national title contender, and while it’s still to be determined if this team can reach that ceiling, they have certainly set themselves up for a November push.
Time will tell what the end result is.
