After nearly two decades of dominance, the aura of invincibility surrounding Alabama football has been ripped away in just 14 games under Kalen DeBoer. That's what happens when you lose four games to unranked opponents, games that Nick Saban just never lost during his time in Tuscaloosa.
DeBoer has opened Alabama up and left them vulnerable. Once seen as the big, bad bully on the block, Alabama would win games mentally just by stepping off the bus. Teams would wilt at the sight.
Former Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel recently said that teams just don't fear Alabama anymore. That's obviously true. That air of invincibility was ripped away in Nashville and Norman a year ago. Any hope of getting it back was flushed down the toilet in Tallahassee last weekend.
If you thought otherwise, former Wisconsin head coach and AD Barry Alvarez will tell you otherwise. Alvarez stated on his show that he was unimpressed with Alabama's performance against Florida State (join the club) and that they didn't look like a Nick Saban team anymore (no kidding??).
He then dropped the bombshell that he believes Wisconsin will be the favorite when the Badgers roll into Tuscaloosa next Saturday.
Alvarez's belief that Wisconsin will be favored is - of course - ridiculous. But it's further proof of the eroded fear factor that used to give the Crimson Tide a massive advantage week-in and week-out.
Alabama will be at least a two-score favorite next week against Wisconsin. But so what? Does that inspire confidence for one single Alabama fan? In four of Alabama's five losses under DeBoer, the Tide has been favored by double digits.
These types of games you used to be able to point to months in advance and just write a "W" on the schedule. There were only ever two or three games per regular season that provided any type of anxiety for Alabama fans during the Saban days. The Tide simply didn't lose games it was supposed to win.
Now, Alabama fans have to worry about "any given Saturday" just like the rest of the country.
Can Alabama take Wisconsin's disrespect and channel it?
Alvarez's words could very easily come back and bite him in the butt. It's not like Wisconsin looked like world beaters in their season-opening win over Miami (OH), and the Badgers are currently without their starting QB, who suffered an injury in that game.
And Alabama dominated Wisconsin in Madison a season ago. It's hard to believe things have changed that much, where the Badgers are going to stroll into Tuscaloosa and leave with a victory. But it's also not like bulletin board material means much of anything to this Alabama team, either.
Tommy Castellanos talked trash all offseason about the Crimson Tide and got away with it. Alabama "addressed" his disrespect by rolling over and playing dead.
It'll be interesting to see what they decide to do this time. Because if they let Wisconsin walk into Bryant-Denny Stadium and win, then the dynasty is truly dead. And Kalen DeBoer should go ahead and make sure his resume his up to date while contacting a realtor.