What Alabama was looking to gain from focus on run game vs. Eastern Illinois

Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama running back Jam Miller (26) attempts to cut back against Eastern Illinois defensive back Isaiah Houi (23) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama football put an emphasis on running the football Saturday against Eastern Illinois by carrying the football 49 times.

The Crimson Tide finished the game with 269 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Three different Alabama running backs had more than eight carries. Jam Miller led all rushers with 62 yards on 11 carries.

AK Dear, who is a true freshman, added 45 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Kevin Riley chipped in 36 rushing yards and two rushing scores. Kalen DeBoer revealed the Tide was looking to get more reps in the run game Saturday for everyone involved in the Tide’s rushing attack to get more reps in hopes its run game could get into a better rhythm.

“I think it’s always execution and just more reps,” DeBoer said. “You get better with reps. It doesn’t matter what your position is… A day like today, there’s just a lot of reps. We had a shake-up there with the offensive line with Geno (VanDeMark) in there and a few other guys. And so again, more reps for those guys against the looks that we saw. And did mix in running backs, and I thought they all ran hard and got their opportunities. It’s just trying to build on everything. I thought last week, a week ago, we took a step forward, and we’ll watch the film and continue to go back to work. I feel like we got a physical football team, both sides of the ball, and that’s what it’s going to come down to here as we go down this home stretch.”

Alabama will need a run game presence against a tough Auburn team on Saturday.