The scene at the end of Alabama’s 42-10 whipping of Wisconsin was straight out of the Joyless Murderball dream.
A nearly empty Big Ten stadium echoed only with the ‘Ala … Bama’ cheer from the conquering visitors. On the field, the intensity wasn’t slipping. This was a 32-point game in the closing minute, but the Crimson Tide sideline was bouncing around.
The Badgers had the ball, running it up the middle for a merciful ending. After an 8-yard run on the first snap of the final possession, Alabama stuffed the next four for gains of 1, 2, 1 and 5 to initiate the handshakes.
Starters bounced around the sideline, watching the rest of the depth chart finish the job.
Casagrande: Alabama packed it up, brutally packed in Wisconsin
We learned this program still has the Saban dog in them. Not that anyone thought it lost that killer instinct after the opponent rolled over, but the scene to close the most impressive performance of the Kalen DeBoer era was certainly a comfort to anyone troubled by the early action seven days earlier.
It was a bounce-back Saturday across the board as Auburn swam past New Mexico, 45-19 under the hydrant in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
We learned there that Hank Brown could check the first row of boxes after Hugh Freeze swapped Payton Thorne for the redshirt freshman.
Touchdowns: 4
Interceptions: 0
See ya next week against Arkansas.
In the big picture, it’s still not quite sunshine and rainbows after a 26-point win over a 0-3 team that was competitive into the fourth quarter. The Lobos outgained the Tigers after three quarters (398-357) before the hosts pulled away (503-448).
We learned again Auburn has some work to do defensively before stepping into the teeth of its SEC schedule if the bottom rung of the Mountain West can open the game with the following four drives:
- 9 plays, 60 yards, FG
- 10 plays, 75 yards, TD
- 2 plays, 11 yards, INT
- 11 plays, 71 yards, FG
The Tigers tightened the grip most of the way after that, save for the 12-play, 74-yard touchdown march in the late third, early fourth quarter.
But they beat a team from New Mexico, washed some of the Cal stink from its mouth and moved on to the SEC opener with Arkansas.
We’ll learn more next Saturday and even more the following week when Oklahoma comes to down. But the Tigers stopped the bleeding long enough Saturday to keep quiet anger from the Week 2 meltdown.
Meanwhile in Madison, Alabama also corrected the turnover torment from the previous Saturday. Where Auburn had five in Week 2 (4 INT, 1 fumble), Alabama had three second-half fumbles. It was ranked second-to-last nationally in fumbles lost but reversed course against Wisconsin.
We learned Alabama could play a clean game. No lost turnovers. Four fumbles forced, two recovered deep in Badger territory — both leading to quick-strike touchdowns.
That’s how you win.
It’s just math.
In the same clean-living breath, Alabama had just four penalties a week after seeing two touchdowns called back in a 12-penalty disciplinary void.
That said, I’m not sure Wisconsin is much better than South Florida. But for Alabama, this September is about personal growth because no tune-ups remain.
They get a week to rest, heal and think about an angry Georgia team bound for Bryant-Denny Stadium in two weeks.
We learned Saturday this was a flawed Bulldog team in its 13-12 win/tribute to leather helmets and the Model T at struggling Kentucky. Given two weeks to stew over that and the fact Alabama spoiled its run to a potential third national title last December and one could expect a Bulldog roster playing with reckless abandon Sept. 28 in Tuscaloosa.
And one could expect the Kirby Smart’s crew will hit another gear after a 262-yard night became the program’s lowest output since 2019 against Texas A&M.
What else we learned Saturday
— Texas continues to make its case for No. 1 as Arch Manning flexed in relief for the injured Quinn Ewers. It handled its business in the 56-7 beating of UTSA a week after pounding Michigan. They’re just checking all the boxes and clearly have two high-end SEC starters at quarterback.
— Florida stinks.
— Arkansas is falling back into what we thought they were after a strong 1.5 weeks to open the season.
— LSU is weird.
— Ole Miss continues to beat up on nobodies with a three-week scoring edge of 168-9. Wake Forest kept it closer than anyone but a 40-6 road win does the trick for Ole Miss.
— Only one team has scored more than Kiffin’s team and that’s Kiffin’s old team. Tennessee tallied 191 points (63.7 average) in three boat races. The Vols brutalized Kent State 71-0 to run its season touchdown total to 24. For context, that tops the nation followed by Ole Miss (22) and Alabama (21).
— Of note, all 147 Alabama points this season have come by touchdown. Its only tried one field goal as reigning Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson missed a 46-yarder on the Tide’s first drive at Wisconsin.
Most of all, we know we have a lot to learn. This season is young, the real good stuff is still to come. The top 5 may have shuffled and a few got scares, but the top of the pyramid hasn’t taken any real blows.
Not yet.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
