If Alabama fans thought yesterday's drubbing in the Rose Bowl was tough, today hasn't been much better. The opinions about what's wrong with Alabama are coming from far and wide and none of them are positive.
The 'Nightcap" podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson/Ochocinco had plenty to say about the Crimson Tide's 38-3 loss to the Hoosiers, and it left the Hall of Fame right end wondering what's special about Alabama football right now.
Indiana hands Alabama a historic CFP beatdown. Unc, Ocho, and Johnny say this team has been getting exposed all season 🤷🏾♂️@ShannonSharpe @ochocinco @JManziel2 #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/MLOxgEySLs
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) January 2, 2026
"There are things you could look at with Alabama and say they are special. You tell me one thing that's special about Alabama [right now]?" Sharpe asked. "Offense, defense or special teams, tell me one thing that you guys have seen all year long that says, 'OK, that's a special player, that's a special unit.' Nothing jumps out at you. Absolutely nothing."
It is easy to say what Alabama doesn't have after taking a shellacking like the Crimson Tide did on New Year's Day. Even if we believed that Indiana was as good as advertised, no one could've predicted that Alabama would get pushed around the way it did on both sides of the ball.
Alabama still has a few special players, but not enough
As weekly podcast guest Johnny Manziel pointed out, sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams is still a special player. He wasn't anywhere near as good as he was as a freshman, but Williams is not even 19 years old yet and has plenty left to give.
But Sharpe's point remains, the Alabama program just lacks stars right now. Coach Kalen DeBoer is searching for that next Will Anderson to rush the passer. He's failed to adequately replace the loss of Caleb Downs, who will likely be a top-10 NFL draft pick in April. Jam Miller has proven himself to be a solid piece at running back, but he hasn't made anyone forget the assembly line of top backs the Crimson Tide have had for most of the 21st century.
This is DeBoer's biggest challenge. He's got to find stars. Guys that can completely change the course of a game. He and his staff have to identify these players in high school recruiting and the transfer portal and do whatever it takes to get them to Tuscaloosa. That process begins today with the opening of the transfer portal window and needs to continue through signing day in December.