Alabama Football Wins its Annual FCS Game, the Real Challenges Are Ahead
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama beat Chattanooga. Did you watch?
Like is tradition, the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide (10-1, 7-0 SEC) played its cupcake in Week 12. This season, the opponent was the Mocs (7-4, 6-2 SoCon).
As expected, Alabama rolled to a 66-10 victory.
Obviously, that was never a doubt. What comes next is what really matters. Over the next three weeks, the Crimson Tide will go to Jordan-Hare Stadium to play an improving Auburn team before getting a crack at the two-time defending national champions in Atlanta on Dec. 2.
Since losing four in a row to fall to 3-4, the Tigers will likely have won four straight, if they're able to knock off New Mexico State — setting up what should be an interesting Iron Bowl on the Plains next weekend. Auburn nearly beat No. 1 Georgia in Auburn on Sept. 30 — No. 13 Ole Miss also escaped on Oct. 21.
Regardless of the result, Alabama will also play for an SEC title against the Bulldogs. The Crimson Tide was the last team to defeat Georgia on Dec. 4, 2021. Alabama is an undefeated 7-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
However, if you know this program, there won't be any talk about the Bulldogs until the clock hits zero at Jordan-Hare Stadium next Saturday.
In fact, the Crimson Tide isn't quite ready to think about the Tigers, either.
"Monday, especially, we'll definitely focus on [Auburn]," defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe said. "But we just want to celebrate this one. [...] [Tomorrow morning], of course I'll be locked in. [...] When that time comes, like any game, you've got to be locked in. Any game we play is going to be the biggest game. No matter what they're record is, if we're going there or they're coming here, it's a big game. [...] We just want to go in there and handle business."
"We'll get to the Iron Bowl when it comes," linebacker Jihaad Campbell said.
Well, it's coming. Jordan-Hare Stadium has been a house of horrors for Alabama under head coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide has lost to its in-state rival just once in Tuscaloosa since 2007 compared to four times on the road.
That includes three of the last five trips. Auburn is now led by Hugh Freeze, who defeated Saban twice while he was at Ole Miss — in back-to-back years.
"It's always the goal that your team grows and develops," Saban said. "This team started, sort of, not like we wanted. But I think a lot of guys have made a huge difference in the development of this team. I don't make comparisons to other teams — we've had some other teams that started out great and didn't finish strong."
"We've got a two-game season left here. And I think we need to focus on how we finish, and how we continue to improve and how we continue to have the right mindset to be able to execute, regardless of the circumstances. Regardless of who we're playing or where we're playing and that's what our focus is going to be."
