It's hard to overstate just how important Alabama's win over Georgia was. Not just for this team, but for Kalen DeBoer and the perception of the program moving forward.
A loss would have put Alabama at 2-2, removing any remaining margin for error in the College Football Playoff race. Another loss on the road would have brought more uncomfortable questions about DeBoer's ability to get his team ready and their ability to overcome adversity.
Instead, Alabama is 3-1 and 1-0 in the SEC. The biggest weakness of the DeBoer era was overcome.
One month ago, Alabama was left for dead after a lifeless performance in Tallahassee. An 0-1 start has now given way to three straight victories, including the massive road win this weekend over Georgia that now positions the Crimson Tide right back into the thick of the national race.
There are still plenty of things to iron out in the coming weeks, and the schedule does not get any easier, but Alabama looks like the Alabama we thought they could be in the preseason.
Plenty are taking notice, including former Alabama QB Greg McElroy, who made a bold proclamation about the game on the Mac and Cube radio show Monday morning.
“I think it was by far the most impressive win in the Kalen DeBoer era," McElroy said. "I think it was the most gutsy type of performance since the 2021 SEC Championship. I’ll go that far.”
Greg McElroy calls Alabama's win over Georgia the most impressive win of the Kalen DeBoer era
He's probably not wrong. The win over Georgia last season was certainly significant, but that game was at home. The only other one that comes close is probably the dominant win over LSU in Baton Rouge last season, which, in retrospect, was wildly out of character for a team that struggled so much away from home. Death Valley is one of the toughest places to play in the country - unless you're Alabama.
But with a loss already this season, and significant doubt about Alabama's standing in the new college football world, the Tide responded with an excellent performance. Alabama's backs were against the wall. They faced adversity. Stared it right in the face. They didn't blink. Finally.
We've seen DeBoer lead Alabama to wins over top opponents before, though. There's no doubt in any Alabama fan's mind that this team can go toe-to-toe with any team in the country. The real question is consistency, and if Alabama can have the mental fortitude to do it every single week.
The schedule is brutal. It gets no easier this weekend. Undefeated Vanderbilt comes to Tuscaloosa, bringing with it memories of what happened a year ago when the Crimson Tide let its guard down in the aftermath of beating Georgia.