Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from the weekend.
Alabama overcomes slow start to earn 50-36 comeback win over Florida State
The revenge game didn't go quite as planned on Saturday. Alabama got off to the patented Kalen DeBoer slow start, falling behind 21-6 late in the second quarter. Then Keelon Russell happened. The light clicked on for the star sophomore quarterback. He threw three touchdown passes in three minutes to turn a 15-point deficit into a five-point halftime lead for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama outscored Florida State 44-15 over the final 33 minutes of game time to pull out a 50-36 decision. Along with Russell, the Tide found offensive balance with a suddenly potent ground game. Alabama ran for 220 yards in the second half, including 140 in the fourth quarter alone. For the first time in a while, Alabama was able to finish off an opponent on the ground.
On Alabama's final touchdown drive that put the game to bed, it went 90 yards in nine plays. Eight of those plays and 80 of those yards were on the ground, with freshman RB Trae'shawn Brown punching in a touchdown to cap the drive.
Alabama flips 2027 Tulane DL commit Kavarris "Duke" Duncan
Tulane DL commit Kavarris "Duke" Duncan, a Talladega native, made a trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a visit. He received an offer from the Crimson Tide and didn't take long to mull it over.
Duncan flipped his commitment to Alabama on Sunday, as many expected as soon as the offer came in. Duncan is an impressive athlete. At 6-foot-1 and over 300 pounds, he plays some QB for his high school team and can dunk a basketball.
His ranking might be lower than Alabama fans are used to, but he's the exact type of inexpensive, scholarship-only player you want to fill out the roster with now that the scholarship limit is up to 105.
Also, Kalen DeBoer and Courtney Morgan have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to evaluating prospects.
Alabama moves up to No. 8 in the AP/Coaches Polls after Florida State win
Alabama's win over Florida State was good enough to keep moving up in the polls. The 3-0 Crimson Tide is now ranked No. 8. That's up five spots from the preseason ranking of No. 13, and up two spots from where they were last week at No. 10.
Losses by LSU and Texas A&M, who were both ranked ahead of Alabama last week, allowed the Tide to move on up.
After a game against South Carolina this weekend, Alabama will face five consecutive opponents that are currently ranked in the AP Poll.
Alabama Women's Golf wins Lady Paladin Invitational
To open the season, Alabama Women's Golf successfully defended its Lady Paladin Invitational crown.
In the three-day event, the Crimson Tide finished 22 shots under par. Four golfers finished inside the Top 20 in individual scoring, led by a fourth-place finish by Manon Petitcolas, who shot nine under for the event.
The event included Augusta, Daytona State, Florida Gulf Coast, Furman (host), Georgia State, High Point, Minnesota, Old Dominion, Rice, Samford, and Xavier.
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