After the game, traffic was light in Starkville. After Alabama led 42-17 midway through the third quarter, Mississippi State fans began to give up hope. A few MSU fans began to trickle out of Davs-Wade Stadium in the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, the trickle became a torrent.
Alabama closed out the game with a 56-23 win. The Crimson Tide came close to blowing out the Bulldogs early. Alabama penalties and turnovers kept Mississippi State in the game until Trae'shawn Brown's eight-yard run gave the Crimson Tide its 41st point and a 25-point lead.
Mississippi State lost one of the SEC's top running backs, Fluff Bothwell. Early, Bothwell got one carry and gained one yard. The Bulldogs can also claim that Kamario Taylor was less than 100% at the start. He was in worse shape when he left the game in the fourth quarter. Kane Wommack's defense got five sacks and added four more tackles for a loss.
It was a physical contest, with the Crimson Tide gaining the upper hand by imposing its will. Keelon was sensational, but Alabama's physicality also stood out. Alabama delivered exactly what Nick Saban asked for before the game.
“There’s a difference between winning the game and defeating the other team. We’ve got to take their hope away. What I want to see in the fourth quarter is no fans in the stands, with no hope of winning this game.”
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 3, 2026
— Nick Saban pic.twitter.com/svHt1kt0BF
Previous Kalen DeBoer doubters were either quiet after the game or loudly climbed aboard the DeBoer bandwagon. At 5-0, an Alabama team that began the season short on experience will keep improving. Inconsistencies during the first weeks of the season were not a surprise. Surprising many is that Kalen DeBoer has a team that compares to what Alabama's best is supposed to be.
Boosting the DeBoer bandwagon, Alabama fans who doubted DeBoer are quickly claiming this is Kalen DeBoer's best team. His widely acknowledged previous best team played in the 2024 National Championship Game.
After the game, Kalen DeBoer praised Crimson Tide players and position groups. Most questions focused on Keelon, but one non-Keelon comment from DeBoer may have been the most significant words during the media session. DeBoer said, "I think we're really a very strong football team, physically, ... I know it's become an identity for us. We talk about it every single day, and those guys, you know, are believing it. And today, I thought we went and cut it loose."
Alabama will need to 'cut it loose' again in Week 6, against a Georgia team that measures itself by punishing opponents.
Add us as a preferred source on Google