Read this Alabama football report card, learn from it, then toss it in the trash.
This report card, with these grades, is far from fridge material.
Alabama is sputtering, and Saturday‘s 24-17 loss to Tennessee at Neyland Stadium is just the latest example. The Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2 SEC) has two losses before November for the first time since 2007, Nick Saban’s first year as coach.
“We just can’t mesh right now the offense and defense together and play great team football,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said postgame. “There’s times when we got to be able to separate ourselves and have that killer instinct. And right now, you know, we don’t do that. And it’s not like they’re not trying. It’s just the execution needs to be better.”
Here’s how we graded the Crimson Tide in the loss to Tennessee.
Alabama offense: D
Three first-half opportunities off takeaways from the defense, and the Alabama offense couldn‘t do anything with any of them. The Crimson Tide scored no points off turnovers. That‘s unacceptable, even against a good Tennessee defense.
Alabama had plenty of self-inflicted wounds, including missed throws, struggles to run consistently, turnovers (two interceptions) and third-down issues (3-for-14). All of it contributed to a forgettable offensive performance. The offense even had a chance to redeem itself not once but twice in the final minutes, but it couldn‘t get a first down. Instead, the game ended with Jalen Milroe throwing an interception. At times, the Alabama offense has led the way when the defense sputters. Saturday wasn’t one of those times.
Alabama defense: C+
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack‘s unit mustered a shutout in the first half. Three takeaways made that possible. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, Tennessee found ways to exploit the Alabama defense in the second half, scoring 24 second-half points. The Crimson Tide gave up 214 rushing yards over the game. In the second half, Tennessee‘s running game scored two of the three touchdowns over seven second-half drives. Despite the struggles after halftime, the Alabama defense stepped up late. It forced a punt with 2:25 left. Then, after the offense squandered the ensuing drive, failing to convert on fourth down, the Crimson Tide defense held the Vols to a field goal on a short field.
The defense gave Alabama a chance, but the offense couldn‘t capitalize. The loss falls much more on the offense, but the defense is certainly not without some blame. It just wasn’t the main culprit.
Alabama special teams: B+
Alabama forced Tennessee to miss two field goals in the first half, which boosts this grade. But the Crimson Tide missed a field goal of its own, albeit from 54 yards, knocking the grade some. Punter James Burnip got plenty of work, punting seven times and averaging 46.7 yards per punt. Graham Nicholson also made the second field goal of his Alabama career on his fourth attempt. Otherwise, not much stood out on the special teams front.
Overall: C-
Alabama is struggling to play team football. The offense and defense can’t seem to play well at the same time these days. It has been one or the other much of the time. Mix that with self-inflicted wounds, lack of discipline and sloppy mistakes, and Alabama isn’t playing winning football right now. Pair that with facing a Tennessee squad that is one of the better teams in the SEC, and it resulted in Alabama losing for a second time in three weeks.
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
