Crimson Tide ebbing as evidenced by loss to Ole Miss
This time, there’s a different feel to it.
This time, Alabama isn’t as likely to receive a second chance.
The more the evidence piles up, the more it’s clear the Crimson Tide have taken a step back and won’t be one of the four playoff teams at the end of the season.
They no longer are deserving of the benefit of the doubt as occurred last football season when the Tide survived an early season loss to Mississippi to not only make it to the final four but receive the top seed going into the postseason.
Much has happened since that point, and it began with that playoff when the Tide were soundly outplayed in the semifinals, losing 42-35 to Ohio State. That was a signal this wasn’t the same Alabama team that won three national championships in four seasons.
So here is Alabama again, coming off another defeat to Ole Miss and now facing many more doubts. It didn’t help Alabama that Saturday’s 43-37 loss to the Rebels was at home.
The pollsters punished the Tide, dropping them from second to 12th in The Associated Press’ rankings. They fell only from third to seventh in the AP poll last season after the Ole Miss loss.
Neither the AP nor the coaches’ polls necessarily affect the one that truly counts, the one put out by the College Football Playoff committee beginning Nov. 3, but it’s an indication that Alabama’s road back to the playoffs is much bumpier this time.
* AROUND THE NATION — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer isn’t sure what to do about his quarterbacks. Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett have had an uneven beginning to the season for the top-ranked Buckeyes as Meyer tries to juggle the situation. “We’re going to have conversations, and (as of Monday), not one has beaten out the other, and they’re not playing great,” Meyer said. … Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury reveled in his team’s 35-24 victory over Arkansas, saying Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema bragged about having a physical team at a Texas high school coaches convention over the summer. “… he stood up and said if you don’t play with a fullback, we’ll kick your ass, and if you throw it 70 times a game, we’ll kick your ass, and he just got his ass kicked twice in a row. And probably next week by (Texas) A&M as well.” On Monday, Bielema said he didn’t understand what the fuss was about. “I’m happy (Kingsbury) got to vent, and hopefully he feels a lot better,” Bielema said. “As a coach who’s been in it for 10 years, I know better than to worry about somebody that’s been around for a couple and they’re .500.” … Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright (left knee) could return for Saturday’s game against UCLA. Last season, he won the Bronko Nagurski, Lombardi and Chuck Bednarik awards.
* AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST — Fresno State quarterback Zack Greenlee was arrested early Sunday morning for public drunkenness, according to The Fresno (Calif.) Bee. Linebacker Brandon Hughes was with Greenlee, and was charged with obstructing a police officer. The Bulldogs’ issues at quarterback already were dicey when freshman Chason Virgil broke his clavicle Saturday against Utah and was lost for the season. Fresno State will ask the NCAA for a hardship redshirt and an extra season of eligibility. … Boise State freshman quarterback Brett Rypien will receive his first start when the Broncos play at Virginia on Friday. His uncle is former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Mark Rypien. … Wyoming defensive end Eddie Yarbrough is closing in on the school’s record for career tackles for loss. He has 32, just four behind John Fletcher, who played from 2005 to 2009. … San Diego State hasn’t beaten a power-conference team on the road since 1999 when the Aztecs defeated Kansas 41-13. They play at Penn State on Saturday.
* MY FINAL FOUR — I vote in the Sweet 16 Poll organized by the Football Writers Association of America and the National Football Foundation. Here is my top four:
1. Ohio State. Barely survived an upset from a Northern Illinois team that UNLV nearly beat, but the Buckeyes hold on to the top spot — for now.
2. Baylor. Put a beating on Bye to move up a notch.
3. Texas Christian. Put together a mostly convincing victory over Southern Methodist, but the Mustangs scored 37 points.
4. Michigan State. The Spartans are getting a lot of national love, and they have a team capable of going all the way.
* HEISMAN ODDS — Handicapper Bruce Marshall (goldsheet.com) provides Heisman Trophy odds each week:
Leonard Fournette, Louisiana State 9-2
Trevone Boykin, TCU 6-1
Nick Chubb, Georgia 7-1
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State 10-1
Dak Prescott, Mississippi State 11-1
Derrick Henry, Alabama 12-1
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 14-1
Connor Cook, Michigan State 18-1
Cody Kessler, Southern California 20-1
Cardale Jones, Ohio State 25-1
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss 25-1
Keenan Reynolds, Navy 25-1
Deshaun Watson, Clemson 25-1
Paul Perkins, UCLA 30-1
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss 30-1
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State 35-1
Dalvin Cook, Florida State 35-1
Everett Golson, Florida State 35-1
Jacoby Brissett, North Carolina State 40-1
Seth Russell, Baylor 40-1
Jared Goff, California 45-1
Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech 45-1
Kyle Allen, Texas A&M 50-1
Kevin Hogan, Stanford 50-1
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma 50-1
Vernon Adams, Oregon 75-1
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee 75-1
Brad Kaaya, Miami 75-1
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State 75-1
Paxton Lynch, Memphis 100-1
Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech 100-1
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65. He is first vice president of the Football Writers Association of America.
