Every Monday, we present “Tide Takes,” where we’ll get into a different topic on the Crimson Tide, break down the previous game, preview the upcoming game, and everything in between.
Last weekend, Alabama earned its biggest win of the season and is in control of its destiny for the remainder of the season.
This was the one Alabama had to have. Would a loss to Texas A&M have completely ended the season for the Crimson Tide? Not necessarily, but it would have pushed Head Coach Nick Saban’s group to the brink and, perhaps most importantly, taken control of their destiny out of Alabama’s hands.
The last thing you want in early October is to be in a spot where you need help from others to keep your season alive. And by the way things have gone in other conferences, it’s entirely possible that one more loss would dash national championship hopes, even if Alabama were able to win an SEC title with two losses.
The Crimson Tide must approach the remainder of the season with a one game at a time, can’t lose mentality. But while it didn’t look like it in preseason, they may already be through the most difficult tests on their schedule until the Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare Stadium
Before the season, it would have been fair to say that the biggest conference challenge on the schedule for Alabama was probably LSU. But six games in, the Bayou Bengals flat out do not look like the team they were billed before the season. The Tiger defense can’t stop a nosebleed right now, and it certainly helps that the game will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Of course Tennessee will present its own set of challenges in two weeks, but the Volunteers haven’t lived up to their preseason billing, either.
Saturday in College Station was the biggest conference test of the year for Alabama and the Tide passed it.
The Crimson Tide are still ranked outside the top 10 in the AP Poll, but it doesn’t really matter right now. Saban and company are squarely in control of their own fate, and if they can get the opportunity to face Georgia in Atlanta with one loss, it is a game where Alabama is assuredly playing for a playoff spot.
Alabama must continue to improve, and this team is taking steps in a positive direction toward becoming the championship contender it hopes to be.
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