Why South Carolina is a must win matchup for Alabama?

Every game should be a must win one for Alabama football, but Saturday takes on a different meaning.

Alabama fans knew for 17 years how Nick Saban would respond to a loss. He rarely faced defeat, but Saban had the next opposition facing a buzz saw after the Crimson Tide dropped a matchup. Saban got into the mentality of his players and pushed them to perform with an aggressive mindset. The word on campus is Kalen DeBoer has ‘buckled down’ since the loss to Vanderbilt, but what does that look like? We will get our first look at how DeBoer responds to adversity this weekend.

RELATED: How South Carolina’s two-quarterback system could make things difficult for Alabama on defense

South Carolina is a must win game for the Tide. Alabama has every goal in front of it for now. All aspirations of playing for a Southeastern Conference Championship, a top seed in the College Football Playoff, or hosting a CFP game are all available. 

Below are reasons why Saturday is a must win for Alabama.

1. Kalen DeBoer has to show he can bounce back

Alabama fans were in the honeymoon stage with Kalen DeBoer, but now it’s over.

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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.