Remember when fans of lesser programs, not on Alabama's schedule, would celebrate big wins by proclaiming 'We Want Bama'. Not that many seasons ago, the Alabama Crimson Tide was the standard by which all others were measured.
An example of how much Alabama's reputation has changed came this week.
Unlike before, when such claims were false bravado, Kentucky fans apparently really do want Alabama and anticipate a Wildcat win. Delusional college football fans are not a new phenomenon. But this is different. When was the last time the Alabama Crimson Tide went to Lexington seeking a signature football win? The answer is never.
Alabama fans have sought signature wins in Lexington against Wildcat basketball teams for decades. It has never happened with the Crimson Tide football program. Alabama fans may scoff at the Crimson Tide needing to make a statement in Lexington, but recent seasons suggest otherwise.
Alabama Crimson Tide 'Away' and 'True Road' record
Away from Bryant-Denny, Kalen DeBoer's Alabama teams have lost seven times against seven wins. The true road record improved to 5-1 last season, after being 2-3 in 2024. Alabama cannot afford to go backward in the new season. In 2024, when the Crimson Tide lost to Vanderbilt in Nashville, Alabama fans were shocked. Many immediately concluded that DeBoer could never succeed at Alabama. Losing to a lowly rated Kentucky team in DeBoer's third Crimson Tide season would bring a similar response.
The good news is that Kentucky's chances of pulling off an upset are minimal. The Wildcats are an unknown under new head coach Will Stein, but most projections have the Wildcats as an SEC bottom-feeder. Regardless of the final scoring margin, the Crimson Tide can't really gain a statement win on Saturday. The uncomfortable reality is that for the Crimson Tide, any SEC road win can be pivotal.
Alabama is a double-digit favorite against Kentucky. If the Crimson Tide covers without the services of its best offensive lineman, we can call the win a 'mini-statement'.
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