Alabama football opens its Southeastern Conference schedule this week against Ole Miss. 

Lane Kiffin has not beaten Nick Saban since becoming the Rebels' head coach in 2020.

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He watched Mac Jones and Bryce Young deconstruct Mississippi's secondary in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Kiffin and Ole Miss will enter Bryant-Denny Stadium with a 3-0 record, following a 48-23 victory over Georgia Tech. He looks to be the fourth former Saban assistant to defeat him, and Kiffin feels comfortable that he'll get it done. Jaxson Dart, the starting quarterback for Ole Miss, is someone Kiffin trusts. The junior has 852 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and two rushing scores. Alabama, on the other, is still trying to find its signal caller. Jalen Milroe started the first two games, but Tyler Buchner earned a start versus South Florida and did not play well. Ty Simpson, a freshman, came off the bench to push the Tide to a 17-3 victory last week.

Kiffin took a subtle jab at Alabama's quarterback room with Young no longer there.

Lane Kiffin on how he feels preparing for the Tide with uncertainty surrounding the QB position. pic.twitter.com/oNWJLarE0m

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) September 18, 2023

The Tide has not played its best to start the year, but it has a chance to redeem itself. Alabama has to excel at quarterback; however, the playmakers around the position must step up too. 

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