It has not played consistently to the standard Nick Saban set for it, yet Alabama is in a good position right now.
The Crimson Tide has a chance to continue its push to the College Football Playoff and end LSU’s opportunity.
ESPN personality says loser of Alabama-LSU matchup has ‘no path back to CFP’
Alabama and LSU will battle at Tiger Stadium in an epic Southeastern Conference showdown. The matchup will be at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC as all eyes are on this rivalry. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama’s head coach, is prepared to show everyone he can handle the hostile atmosphere of “Death Valley” in Baton Rouge, La. Damien Harris, a former Tide running back, has had his concerns about this team, but he sees his Alma mater handling the Tigers. The latest member to CBS Sports HQ as an analyst called Alabama an ‘underrated’ team before the matchup.
“This is not the same Alabama standard, but this is an underrated team.”@DHx34 thinks that his Crimson Tide are going to the finish the year stronger than they started. pic.twitter.com/HjIRovMNZP
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 9, 2024
“Alabama is underrated and here is why,” Harris said. “They suffered two early losses to Tennessee and Vandy, but then you looked at them against Missouri and Missouri was not the best team in the country … but, they had a point to prove. They put up a goose egg. They put their starters back in at the end of the game to make sure they preserve that goose egg, and now they are going to build. Everyone is looking at Vandy and Tennessee saying this is not the same Alabama, and I agree. It is not the same Alabama standard, but this is an underrated team. They are going to finish out the season stronger.”
The two-time CFP National Champion (2015, 2017) highlighted Alabama’s playmakers such as Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams for the game versus LSU. Harris also said the defense has started to play better. The Alabama-LSU matchup has brought intensity out of both teams through the years. We will see how the Tide handles the environment in a must win situation under DeBoer.
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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.
