Many recent claims about the 8-2 Alabama Crimson Tide include that Kalen DeBoer's team peaked in October or that Alabama has regressed since its win over Georgia in September. The claims are not without some proof.
As the season has progressed, opponents have better understood the Crimson Tide's weaknesses and seized some advantages. That was evident against Oklahoma. As good a defensive mind as there is in college football, Brent Venables knew how to attack Alabama at its stress points.
Even with Alabama's flaws and Oklahoma's array of defensive challenges, the game's outcome came down to only a few plays. Alabama's missed short field goal was one. Another was the extraordinary punch out of the ball on Ryan Williams. A third was the defensive pressure and scheme that resulted in Ty Simpson making a bad read and throw, resulting in a pick-six.
Perhaps too much is being made of a two-point loss to a good football team. Alabama is light-years better than it was against FSU. Kane Wommack has built the Crimson Tide defense into one of college football's ten best. Ty Simpson's recent struggles show he was not a legit Heisman contender, but do not erase his obvious talents that will continue to improve.
Alabama Crimson Tide Has Flaws
Yes, as Alabama fans know too well, the Crimson Tide has flaws. So does every other college football team in this age of parity. Despite the win over Georgia, Alabama is not the SEC's best team. The Bulldogs are. Alabama is arguably better than Ole Miss and Oklahoma. Texas A&M may or may not be better than the Crimson Tide.
Brian Fremeau's FEI Ratings have nine SEC teams in college football's top 20. Ranked in order, they are: Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas. It is notable that Alabama has beaten four of the other eight teams and only lost to one.
Jeff Sagarin's ratings have 10 SEC teams in his top 20. Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama are tightly bunched at No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7. In the other nine teams, Alabama has beaten five.
Brian Fremeau combines his FEI ratings with Bill Connelly's SP+ rankings to create what he calls F+ Ratings. The F+ has Alabama as college football's No. 8 team and second-best in the SEC behind Georgia.
Clearly, Alabama must continue to improve and, in some ways, find itself again offensively. Flawed field-goal kicking will likely remain a liability. Still, Alabama is a good football team that will not quit on itself. Maybe the Tide's ceiling is around 11 wins, meaning both 10 and 12 are possible. More than 12 is not impossible.