Alabama Football: Tough road trips far from over

Alabama football desperately needs to re-focus. The Crimson Tide has the talent and potential to accomplish all of its goals, despite taking a regular season loss to Tennessee. Given that College Football Playoff expansion has not yet been implemented, the Tide can’t afford another loss this season and still be crowned national champs.

If the mindset that has seemingly infiltrated this locker room over the past two seasons does not shift in a seismic manner, the odds are stacked against Alabama.

Alabama Football: Difficulties on the road continue

This team’s recent struggles on the road are well-documented. Games against Florida, Texas A&M, and Auburn from 2021 stand out, as do games at Texas and Tennessee in 2022. One could argue, however, that Alabama has struggled just as much at home. Arkansas and LSU both took the Tide to the brink last season, and Texas A&M did the same two weeks ago.

If there is any merit to the theory that this collective of players performs poorly in road environments, things will not get easier any time soon for the 2022 Crimson Tide. After hosting a ranked Mississippi State team in Starkville and getting a much needed bye week, Alabama goes back on the road for a pair of tough divisional contests.

Ole Miss is currently undefeated and ranked right behind the Tide at no. 7 in the country. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium has been a notoriously difficult place to play throughout the Saban era. LSU’s Death Valley, though it hasn’t necessarily given Alabama trouble, is always a raucous environment. LSU isn’t a great team, but they are much improved from the program they’ve been the past two seasons, and will present a sneakily tough game.

Alabama can’t afford to have its attention anywhere but squarely on Mike Leach’s Bulldogs this week. Their offense is “difficult” to defend, per Nick Saban, and Will Rogers is an immensely talented and experienced quarterback.

If the Tide does not show up focused, intense, aggressive, and ready to play this week, Mississippi State can be a dangerous team.

Nick Saban coached teams are rarely sharper than in games directly following a loss, which should give some level of comfort to Alabama Football fans.

After the bye week, however, Alabama hits the road again. Ole Miss could be a top-ten matchup in Oxford, and LSU could be a ranked opponent by November as well.

Extensive adjustments must be made, both in scheme and mentality, if the Crimson Tide is going to win out.