Alabama Football: Nearing midseason the biggest CFB surprises

October usually brings cooler air and increased urgency to college football. Nearing midseason, some teams, including Alabama football, have been surprises.

October is supposed to signal a change for college football. As temperatures cool, everything else heats up. So far, 2019 has been a season of surprises, including with Alabama football.

It happens every fall. What fans were sure they knew when the season began is reshaped by surprises by midseason. Conventional wisdom was Clemson and Alabama football were destined to meet again in January to battle for another national champion. And the repeat matchup could still transpire but the Tigers and the Crimson Tide so far have surprised.

Clemson did not look like a national champion, barely holding on to beat North Carolina. Alabama football has not been truly tested but, the now, No. 1 ranked Tide has not shown a championship quality defense.

Much bigger surprises have occurred in the SEC and elsewhere in college football. Looking at busts, it is clear Michigan and Nebraska were massively overrated. College football fans on the west coast may be dismayed but there should be little surprise the Pac 12 has almost no chance for a return to the CFB Playoff.

Oklahoma having a powerhouse offense is no surprise, but the renewal of Jalen Hurts as a Heisman contender is surprising. Hurts has been sensational even when considering he now competes in a league that disdains defensive football.

The 2019 season began with some doubt about the Ohio State Buckeyes. Neither head coach Ryan Day or incoming quarterback transfer, Justin Fields were considered elite. Day and Fields are proving the fallacies in those opinions.

In the SEC, there have been plenty of surprises. The good ones have come from Baton Rouge and Auburn. The Bengal Tigers appear to have finally created the many time promised, but never delivered, offensive firepower essential in today’s championship ambitions. Gus Malzahn, the sometimes doofus, is again the sometimes wizard. His Auburn Tigers have a demanding schedule but are on the fringe of national championship conversation.

The biggest disappointing surprises in the SEC so far are Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Wildcats probably had unrealistic expectations and they have been weakened by injuries. The $75M man in College Station has been found lacking. In fairness to Jimbo, the Aggies probably needed two or three full seasons to rebuild, but the momentum is in the wrong direction.

Then there is the implosion in Knoxville. Many Alabama football fans feel for Jeremy Pruitt. But after all, he did agree to work for Phil Fulmer. And with Fulmer’s track record for disloyalty, did the now AD, who wants to be the UT head coach again, really hope Pruitt would succeed?

We should exercise some caution in expectations. The season is not yet halfway and there will be more surprises. Teams will rise and fall and college football fans will enjoy all the drama. Unless, of course, the drama is the downward spiral of our favorite team.