It’s been an interesting few months, but No. 1 Alabama now finds itself in the final regular-season game of its pandemic-shortened season. Outside of a few unexpected twists and turns, it’s been relatively smooth sailing for the Crimson Tide which sits at 9-0 with the SEC West already locked up heading into Saturday’s 11 a.m. CT kickoff at Arkansas (3-6).
Alabama is currently a 31-point favorite over Arkansas. The Razorbacks are coming off a heartbreaking 50-48 defeat to Missouri last week, their third loss of 3 points or fewer this season.
Here are five questions to consider leading up to the matchup.
Does Alabama have a championship-caliber defense?
College football has turned a new page. Gone are the days when elite defenses held opponents to single-digit scores.
Nick Saban still remembers when his team held opponents to a mere 8.2 points per game in 2011. Nine years later, the head coach still has the SEC’s best scoring defense, albeit one that gives up an average of 18.3 points.
This year’s Alabama defense doesn’t quite match up to the Tide’s previous championship-winning units. The highest average of points allowed by a title-winning team under Saban came in 2015 when the Tide gave up 15.1 points per game. Other than that, Alabama’s recent champions have all held their opponents to fewer than 12 points.
2009 — 11.7 ppg
2011 — 8.2 ppg
2012 — 10.9 ppg
2015 — 15.1 ppg
2017 — 11.9 ppg
However, times are different now. Alabama’s offense is averaging 49.2 points per game, more than 10 points higher than any of its previous championship sides. It’s also worth noting that the Tide’s defense is still well above average compared to teams across the nation.
Alabama’s 18.3 points allowed per game ranks 15th in the nation. It ranks 35th in total defense (357 yards per game), 21st in run defense (116.67 ypg) and 73rd in pass defense (240.3 ypg). It’s not the typical dominance Tide fans are used to, but Alabama finds itself in the top five in the SEC for each of those categories.
The only question that truly matters is if this defense is good enough to win a title. In recent weeks, that answer has been a resounding yes.
Alabama has held its last five opponents to 17 points or fewer, allowing just five touchdowns over that span. Meanwhile, its offense has scored 40 or more points in its last nine games.
This week, the Tide faces an Arkansas team that ranks middle of the road in the SEC averaging 28.22 points per game. There will be bigger tests than that as Alabama enters the postseason. However, the Tide appears to have what it takes to get by.
Is this Alabama’s best OL?
Mac Jones is going to have to get creative. Generally, when an Alabama quarterback has this much success, he gives back by treating his offensive line to dinner. Although, in the midst of a pandemic, that’s not possible this year.
“I’ll have to come up with something to give them or something like that," Jones said. "Right now we can’t go out to eat. We went out to eat in the past, but with COVID it’s kind of hard to get together, but we’ll figure something out.”
Whatever the reward ends up being, it will be well earned. Alabama’s line has already generated plenty of praise while helping the Tide average 49.2 points and 548.3 yards per game. Alabama boasts the nation’s leader in rushing touchdowns (Najee Harris, 20) as well as the leader in receiving touchdowns (DeVonta Smith, 15). Meanwhile, Jones is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Each member of that trio has the offensive line to thank.
"Our offensive line has done a great job this year," Jones said. "They are definitely one of the best offensive lines in the country, and they need to get the recognition they deserve. And they’ve earned that on the field and in practice. That’s a great group of guys. I love those guys. I don’t think I even got hit, maybe one time last game.”
For the record, Jones didn’t get hit against LSU. In fact, the starting quarterback has been sacked just once over his last three games — something to keep in mind when handling his holiday shopping.
What’s up with Alabama’s second-half slumps?
The scoreboard is often the nemesis of Saban’s processed approach. If the head coach had it his way, his players wouldn’t be privy to scores and stats, allowing them to focus exclusively on the task at hand.
However, the new 30-foot high video boards inside Bryant-Denny Stadium are hard to miss. Generally, those, and any other scoreboard during Alabama games, display a lopsided advantage for the Tide.
Lately, that might have caused some complacency coming out of halftime.
Alabama has entered the second half with a lead of 18 points or more in each of its last five games. That’s been accompanied by a brief dropoff as the Tide has failed to score on their opening possession of the second half in all of those games.
“You want to come out and play and reestablish the tempo of the game in the second half,” Saban said. “I think there have been times where we’ve done this fairly well and there have been times when we’ve had a couple of slow starts.”
Jones has also noticed the problem, stating he’s been trying to find ways to raise his teammates’ energy levels coming out of the break.
“I think part of that is just getting warmed up a little bit more,” he said. “And we’ll have to find a way to do that and just get our heart rate up a little bit so we’re ready to go in the second half.”
With Alabama listed as more than a four-touchdown favorite over Arkansas, it’s likely the Tide will enter the third quarter with another sizable lead Saturday.
Last look at young stars this season?
Alabama’s recent blowouts have provided a glimpse into the future as several young players were handed extended reps during mop-up duty.
Jase McClellan continued to impress with 48 yards on five carries, while fellow freshman running back Roydell Williams picked up 19 yards on his three touches. On the defensive side of the ball, tackles Jamil Burroughs and Tim Smith both received some late action as well.
While Alabama preaches a next-man-up mentality, Saturday could be the final time some of the Tide’s younger players see the field outside of special teams. Saban has already stated the importance of not overlooking a scrappy Arkansas team this week. However, if the Tide handles business as it’s expected to do, it should create one final opportunity to gain experience for younger players.
Perhaps nowhere is that more important than at the quarterback position. Unlike McClellan and Williams, Bryce Young hasn’t been given too much of an opportunity to impress. Generally, when the five-star freshman quarterback enters the game, it’s to hand off the ball as Alabama looks to run down the clock.
The Tide could change that this week as it looks to better prepare Young for a possible emergency situation in the postseason. After all, the freshman is just one injury — or illness — away from replacing Jones behind center.
“We’re trying to get Bryce experience and obviously the more experience he gets, the more confidence that he’ll have,” Saban said. “We’ve tried to put him in games where we left good players around him so that he would have some opportunities. And he’s still learning and he’s still growing, and I think it’s going to be important for us to continue to enhance his development so that if he is asked to play, he’s going to be able to go in and play winning football for us.”
How many records will be broken?
Ready for a little rat poison? Hope so, because there’s plenty to go around.
On top of being a 31-point favorite, Alabama enters Saturday’s matchup with several records in reach.
DeVonta Smith enters the game 50 receiving yards away from passing Amari Cooper’s all-time school record of 3,463 yards through the air. Considering the senior receiver is averaging 187.25 receiving yards over his last four games, he could reach the milestone by the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Najee Harris is close to two more school records. The senior running back is just three rushing touchdowns away from breaking the all-time mark of 42 set by Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram. Harris is also 177 yards away from passing Henry’s all-time rushing record of 3,591 yards. The senior is averaging 115.33 yards and 2.22 touchdowns per game on the ground this season.
Alabama is currently a 31-point favorite over Arkansas. The Razorbacks are coming off a heartbreaking 50-48 defeat to Missouri last week, their third loss of 3 points or fewer this season.
Here are five questions to consider leading up to the matchup.
Does Alabama have a championship-caliber defense?
College football has turned a new page. Gone are the days when elite defenses held opponents to single-digit scores.
Nick Saban still remembers when his team held opponents to a mere 8.2 points per game in 2011. Nine years later, the head coach still has the SEC’s best scoring defense, albeit one that gives up an average of 18.3 points.
This year’s Alabama defense doesn’t quite match up to the Tide’s previous championship-winning units. The highest average of points allowed by a title-winning team under Saban came in 2015 when the Tide gave up 15.1 points per game. Other than that, Alabama’s recent champions have all held their opponents to fewer than 12 points.
2009 — 11.7 ppg
2011 — 8.2 ppg
2012 — 10.9 ppg
2015 — 15.1 ppg
2017 — 11.9 ppg
However, times are different now. Alabama’s offense is averaging 49.2 points per game, more than 10 points higher than any of its previous championship sides. It’s also worth noting that the Tide’s defense is still well above average compared to teams across the nation.
Alabama’s 18.3 points allowed per game ranks 15th in the nation. It ranks 35th in total defense (357 yards per game), 21st in run defense (116.67 ypg) and 73rd in pass defense (240.3 ypg). It’s not the typical dominance Tide fans are used to, but Alabama finds itself in the top five in the SEC for each of those categories.
The only question that truly matters is if this defense is good enough to win a title. In recent weeks, that answer has been a resounding yes.
Alabama has held its last five opponents to 17 points or fewer, allowing just five touchdowns over that span. Meanwhile, its offense has scored 40 or more points in its last nine games.
This week, the Tide faces an Arkansas team that ranks middle of the road in the SEC averaging 28.22 points per game. There will be bigger tests than that as Alabama enters the postseason. However, the Tide appears to have what it takes to get by.
Is this Alabama’s best OL?
Mac Jones is going to have to get creative. Generally, when an Alabama quarterback has this much success, he gives back by treating his offensive line to dinner. Although, in the midst of a pandemic, that’s not possible this year.
“I’ll have to come up with something to give them or something like that," Jones said. "Right now we can’t go out to eat. We went out to eat in the past, but with COVID it’s kind of hard to get together, but we’ll figure something out.”
Whatever the reward ends up being, it will be well earned. Alabama’s line has already generated plenty of praise while helping the Tide average 49.2 points and 548.3 yards per game. Alabama boasts the nation’s leader in rushing touchdowns (Najee Harris, 20) as well as the leader in receiving touchdowns (DeVonta Smith, 15). Meanwhile, Jones is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Each member of that trio has the offensive line to thank.
"Our offensive line has done a great job this year," Jones said. "They are definitely one of the best offensive lines in the country, and they need to get the recognition they deserve. And they’ve earned that on the field and in practice. That’s a great group of guys. I love those guys. I don’t think I even got hit, maybe one time last game.”
For the record, Jones didn’t get hit against LSU. In fact, the starting quarterback has been sacked just once over his last three games — something to keep in mind when handling his holiday shopping.
What’s up with Alabama’s second-half slumps?
The scoreboard is often the nemesis of Saban’s processed approach. If the head coach had it his way, his players wouldn’t be privy to scores and stats, allowing them to focus exclusively on the task at hand.
However, the new 30-foot high video boards inside Bryant-Denny Stadium are hard to miss. Generally, those, and any other scoreboard during Alabama games, display a lopsided advantage for the Tide.
Lately, that might have caused some complacency coming out of halftime.
Alabama has entered the second half with a lead of 18 points or more in each of its last five games. That’s been accompanied by a brief dropoff as the Tide has failed to score on their opening possession of the second half in all of those games.
“You want to come out and play and reestablish the tempo of the game in the second half,” Saban said. “I think there have been times where we’ve done this fairly well and there have been times when we’ve had a couple of slow starts.”
Jones has also noticed the problem, stating he’s been trying to find ways to raise his teammates’ energy levels coming out of the break.
“I think part of that is just getting warmed up a little bit more,” he said. “And we’ll have to find a way to do that and just get our heart rate up a little bit so we’re ready to go in the second half.”
With Alabama listed as more than a four-touchdown favorite over Arkansas, it’s likely the Tide will enter the third quarter with another sizable lead Saturday.
Last look at young stars this season?
Alabama’s recent blowouts have provided a glimpse into the future as several young players were handed extended reps during mop-up duty.
Jase McClellan continued to impress with 48 yards on five carries, while fellow freshman running back Roydell Williams picked up 19 yards on his three touches. On the defensive side of the ball, tackles Jamil Burroughs and Tim Smith both received some late action as well.
While Alabama preaches a next-man-up mentality, Saturday could be the final time some of the Tide’s younger players see the field outside of special teams. Saban has already stated the importance of not overlooking a scrappy Arkansas team this week. However, if the Tide handles business as it’s expected to do, it should create one final opportunity to gain experience for younger players.
Perhaps nowhere is that more important than at the quarterback position. Unlike McClellan and Williams, Bryce Young hasn’t been given too much of an opportunity to impress. Generally, when the five-star freshman quarterback enters the game, it’s to hand off the ball as Alabama looks to run down the clock.
The Tide could change that this week as it looks to better prepare Young for a possible emergency situation in the postseason. After all, the freshman is just one injury — or illness — away from replacing Jones behind center.
“We’re trying to get Bryce experience and obviously the more experience he gets, the more confidence that he’ll have,” Saban said. “We’ve tried to put him in games where we left good players around him so that he would have some opportunities. And he’s still learning and he’s still growing, and I think it’s going to be important for us to continue to enhance his development so that if he is asked to play, he’s going to be able to go in and play winning football for us.”
How many records will be broken?
Ready for a little rat poison? Hope so, because there’s plenty to go around.
On top of being a 31-point favorite, Alabama enters Saturday’s matchup with several records in reach.
DeVonta Smith enters the game 50 receiving yards away from passing Amari Cooper’s all-time school record of 3,463 yards through the air. Considering the senior receiver is averaging 187.25 receiving yards over his last four games, he could reach the milestone by the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Najee Harris is close to two more school records. The senior running back is just three rushing touchdowns away from breaking the all-time mark of 42 set by Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram. Harris is also 177 yards away from passing Henry’s all-time rushing record of 3,591 yards. The senior is averaging 115.33 yards and 2.22 touchdowns per game on the ground this season.
