Nick Saban's 2023 Crimson Tide Continues to Win With Growing Pains

Commentary: How big was the 34-20 Alabama win over Tennessee in the Third Saturday in October? Just imagine how the fans would have reacted had it lost.

When it comes to this rivalry, the exhale is always a little sweeter with the taste of some cigar smoke. 

Let there be no doubt, though, there was a a "Whew!" factor, or feeling of relief, at Bryant-Denny Stadium with this one. With visiting No. 17 Tennessee taking a 13-point lead while controlling the first half of the 106th meeting of the Third Saturday in October rivalry, in addition to pulling off the last-second win a year ago, and yeah, Alabama Crimson Tide fans were more than a little concerned. 

One could almost hear the wordsmiths in the press box, sharpening up their carving knives to slice up Nick Saban and his team into tiny bits, proclaiming everything from how the game had passed him by, to speculating on where the 2023 team ranked among his worst teams at Alabama.

Only then the second half happened, and those who hadn't thrown away their stogies in frustration were more than rewarded, and the haze over the playing field became impossible to ignore before the clock ran out on the 34-20 victory. 

"Koooooo-aaaaaaaah." Think of a Dark Vader breath, stressful on the intake and puff, but finished with a sense of peace and calm. That was this win. 

"I love it. It's been great," Nick Saban said about his team's resilience after improving to 7-1 overall, 5-1 in SEC play. "The challenges are great. I enjoy coaching this team. That's not to say they're [not] taking years off of my life, but I'm OK with that."

Here's the best news for Crimson Tide fans. In addition to getting back at Tennessee, and denying the Volunteers a chance to become just the third SEC team to top Saban in back-to-back games at Alabama (fourth overall, as Florida beat him twice in a row at LSU), the win set this team up to make a title run. 

No. 11 Alabama will go into the bye knowing exactly what's at stake, which should lead to both good practices and and some needed time to recoup. It can all but clinch the SEC West and a spot in the league's championship game with a win against LSU in two weeks, with Kentucky and Auburn still on the schedule. Two-time reigning champion Georgia would obviously be the likely opponent in Atlanta, and the Crimson Tide will likely need to win out to make the College Football Playoff. 

The path is a familiar one for Alabama, and that's the point. It's still there despite everything this team has been through. Moreover, the Crimson Tide knows it's best football is almost certainly still ahead of it. 

Just how it's gotten to this point has been very different. Alabama fans don't need to be reminded of all the details, but it's sort of uncanny how the season is sort of playing out similar to how this game did.

Go back to the opening kickoff and the first few possessions, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III looked almost unstoppable and suddenly fulfilling his potential. At 6-5, 244 pounds and with a cannon arm, the 23-year-old transfer from Michigan (who is older than even Alabama fifth-year kicker Will Reichard) wasn't going downfield too much, but he completed his first nine passes while UT offense was nearly mistake-free. 

Milton came in ranked 12th in the conference in passing yards, and 65th in the nation in passing efficiency. He was 112 of 182 (61.54 percent), 1,264 yards, with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. More than his paltry 133.61 rating, the Volunteers' offense just hadn't clicked like it did a year ago.

It looked like it was going to, though. Aided by an exceptional fingertip-catch by Squirrel White, who barely got a foot down in the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown to take the early lead, it was all "Rocky Top" early on. When Milton's 10th pass bounced off the chest of his receiver, it was one of the few miscues made by Tennessee early on, which executed 29 plays in the first quarter while taking a 13-0 lead. Meanwhile, Alabama's offense had just one first down and 36 total yards, 17 of which came on one snap.

If anything, Alabama was very fortunate not to be down 21-0, especially after losing a fumble, giving Tennessee the ball at the 34-yard line. The Crimson Tide defense kept it in the game by making its second key series stop after Tennessee had first-and-goal.

Alabama might have amazingly had the halftime lead if it wasn't for a deflected interception in the end zone. However, it was Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC) that added points just before the break, quickly driving and finally reached the end zone with the ball inside the 10, beating a blitz for a 6-yard touchdown catch by tight end McCallan Castles.

Saban had a one-word description for the end of the half, "horrible," and it was the kind of sequence that define teams, players and careers. It was also the fourth time this season that Alabama was facing a halftime deficit, and at 20-7 it was in its biggest hole yet. 

But then Alabama took the game over. A 29-yard run on the first snap of the second half and a 46-yard bomb to Isaiah Bond did more to spark the team than anything in the first half. With the momentum flipped the offensive line started matching the success of the Crimson Tide's defensive front, and with more time the 20-year-old Milroe got more comfortable. With the running game executing as well, it was the home team's offense that almost looked unstoppable.

Milroe used the key word in his postgame interview, shortly after CBS handed Saban a cigar to chew on: "Finished." 

All that was needed was the final touch, which fittingly was proved by the defense. When Milton double-clutched because of the coverage, linebacker Chris Braswell caught him from behind, with linebacker Jihaad Campbell making the scoop-and-score touchdown. 

A few weeks ago that touchdown probably would have been nullified by a penalty, with the points coming off the board. This team isn't making those kinds of mistakes any more. Not that it's perfect, but it's growing up before our very eyes.  

"Obviously a pretty fun second half," Saban said. 

It took a while, yet it got there. Alabama minimized mistakes, established the run game, and the defense got off the field on third downs. It outscored a good Tennessee 27-0 in the second half, giving the Crimson Tide fans both that taste of smoke, and its potential from here on out.

Just it's going to make it's fans sweat a lot more than what they're used to under Saban.

This column will be updated. 

Christopher Walsh's column regularly appears on BamaCentral.