Saturday marked the start of SEC play, and it began great for Alabama — but not so good for perennial power Kentucky.

The Wildcats jumped off to a 5-0 lead. Alabama fans were reminded of Indiana jumping out to an early 17-0 lead over Bama in the Rose Bowl. The Hoosiers held and extended that lead on New Year’s Day.

Kentucky could not hold their early lead Saturday, and Alabama’s offense quickly went on a 9-0 run, taking a 9-5 lead.

In bits and spurts, Alabama went out front by 21 points. Kentucky eased closer for a while, but then Alabama established dominance and wound up ahead 50-34 at halftime and winning the game 89-74.

It was a historic win for the Tide – the first time in program history that Alabama has beaten Kentucky four times in a row.

Kentucky’s last win over Alabama came in February 2024.

No. 14 Alabama is now 11-3 on the season and 1-0 in the SEC.

Next, Tide Hoops faces #11 Vanderbilt in Nashville on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 p.m. CST. Vandy won at South Carolina 83-71 Saturday in their first SEC outing.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.

We are in the beginning of the Governor’s Race year. It would not be a gubernatorial year without harkening back and remembering ole Shorty Price.

Alabama, in bygone days, would have a slew of what I called “run for the fun of it” candidates. They would run knowing full well they did not have a snowball’s chance to win but they made it a fun show.

By far, the most colorful of these perennial, “also-ran” candidates was William Ralph “Shorty” Price. Shorty was born and raised in Barbour County just like the successful Alabama politician, George C. Wallace. They were not only from the same county, but from the same town of Clio. They even, briefly, roomed together at the University of Alabama.

Shorty had tremendous enmity towards George Wallace, probably because Wallace was as successful as Shorty was unsuccessful. Shorty truly hated Wallace and would run every time Wallace did, and cuss Wallace viciously.

Shorty would run for Governor every four years. He was appropriately nicknamed since he was barely five feet tall. Shorty not only ran for Governor, perennially, but he ran for numerous other offices. He often used recycled campaign signs to save money, but he rarely garnered 2% of the votes.

Shorty would wander around the state in non-election years, panhandling for “contributions” which he quickly converted into cans of Budweiser beer. I never saw Shorty draw a sober breath. He was always exuberantly inebriated. Shorty was just as proud as he could be that he stayed drunk all the time. His campaign slogan was “Smoke Tampa Nugget Cigars, drink Budweiser beer, and vote for Shorty Price for Governor.”

In one of his campaigns for governor, his campaign speech highlighted this line, “If elected governor, I will reduce the governor’s tenure from four to two years. If you can’t steal enough to last you the rest of your life in two years, you ain’t got enough sense to have the office in the first place.” Shorty expressed disdain for Governor Albert Brewer, and stated the reason being that Brewer had enacted a levy of two cents on every beer. Shorty said, “I’m a Budweiser man.”

In the 1958 governor’s race, there were several “also-ran” or “run-for-the-fun-of-it” candidates. Shorty ran behind all of them. He took his last-place finish not as a slight, but as an honor. When a newspaper reporter wrote, some years later, that Price ran next to last in 1958, Shorty replied in mock anger, “That’s a blasphemous lie! There were 14 of us in that race, and I finished last.” Shorty was quite a colorful character.

Shorty loved Alabama football. Following the Crimson Tide was Shorty’s prime passion in life. Many of you remember him from Alabama football games. You could spot Shorty at every Crimson Tide football game, always sporting his Alabama tie and flag and quite drunk. I don’t know if Shorty actually had a seat because he would parade around Denny Stadium or Legion Field posing as Alabama’s head cheerleader.

In fact, he would consistently intersperse himself among the real Alabama cheerleaders and help them with their cheers. There was never any question that Shorty was totally inebriated. Shorty worshipped Paul “Bear” Bryant, and like Bryant, Shorty hated Tennessee. Bryant and Shorty had rather beat Tennessee than anybody. This traditional rivalry goes back more than 100 years and was highlighted during the Wallace Wade and General Neyland era rivalry.

In fact, those of you who are Alabama fans are aware that the annual classic Alabama vs. Tennessee game will be played this Saturday in Tuscaloosa. It is because the Tennessee game is this week is the reason I chose to remind Alabamians of Shorty Price. If Shorty was still here, there is no doubt he would be at Bryant Denny stadium in rare form.

Shorty died in a car crash between Troy and Montgomery about 35 years ago. He was more than likely sipping on a Budweiser when he had his accident. I miss ole Shorty.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has seen some huge performances this season from star wide receiver Germie Bernard.

Saturday was no different, as he scored two first-half touchdowns to jump-start the offense.

Bernard, who has enjoyed a breakout season and has been the team’s top wide receiver, has been open during his time at Alabama about his deep faith in God and living it out on the field. He has shown that faith all year with a touchdown celebration in which he drops to his knees and extends his arms.

During an interview with The Next Round, Bernard left no doubt about what the celebration means — and who gives him the strength to perform:

https://x.com/NextRoundLive/status/1967629802694906177

“When I score and I do that, I’m letting everyone know that God gets all the glory for this,” Bernard said. “He’s given me the strength to come out here and play this game of football, and He’s given me the strength to catch these touchdowns, so I’m just giving Him glory in those moments, and I just want everyone else to see that God is working through me.”

Through three games, Bernard has 15 receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns, helping Alabama’s offense get back on track after a rough opener.

If Alabama is going to have any chance of accomplishing its goals this year, Bernard will be a massive factor in why it succeeds. He will continue to loudly profess his deep faith as the main reason why he’s able to do what he does.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

Brilyn Hollyhand, youth advisory council chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has announced that he will attend Auburn University this fall—a major decision for the Tuscaloosa native who has spent his teenage years at the center of conservative politics.

Hollyhand, 18, has served as chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Youth Advisory Council and is the author of the bestselling book One Generation Away. He is also the host of The Brilyn Hollyhand Show, where he’s interviewed political heavyweights from across the country.

But when it came time to choose a college, he made a decision rooted in his vision for the state he calls home.

“Being born and raised in Tuscaloosa, we’re trained that Auburn’s the bad guys,” Hollyhand said. “But when I started thinking about where I wanted to spend the next four years, I thought about broadening my horizons… trying somewhere else, at least for four years.”

RELATED: Brilyn Hollyhand launches ‘Get Off the Sidelines’ tour to activate young conservative voters on college campuses

During the 2024 election cycle, Hollyhand spoke at 10 college campuses across the country. Auburn stood out — not just for its academic offerings, but for the people.

“I fell in love with Auburn,” he said. “I spoke there twice last fall, and the second time I was there, it really, really sold me. I got to speak to both their Turning Point chapter and the [College Republicans] chapter. And something special is happening at Auburn, and I just want to be a part of it.”

One of the key moments came during a sit-down interview with Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl, whom Hollyhand describes as a mentor and major influence. The two connected after Pearl emerged as a growing voice in political discourse.

“Coach Pearl told me I was an Auburn man. I laughed at the time—I’m from Tuscaloosa,” Hollyhand said. “But that conversation stayed with me. And he’s stayed in touch ever since.”

Though he’s spent his high school years embedded in politics and cheering for the Crimson Tide — “I haven’t missed an Alabama home game in three seasons” — Hollyhand said he was looking for something different in a college environment.

“What I saw on campuses when I was tailgating… that’s not the culture nor the community nor the family that I really want to be a part of here in Tuscaloosa,” he said. “When I went and visited Auburn… that is the vibe and the family and the community that I want to be a part of.”

Hollyhand plans to major in political science, a decision he said was solidified after spending time with Auburn faculty.

Though he’s aware his national profile may draw attention, Hollyhand said he’s focused on contributing to the community, not disrupting it.

“I want to be as involved as I can be in a helpful way—not in a harmful way,” he said. “I’m not slowing down at all with my career… But the Auburn Family that I’ve come to know and love in the past few months is a loving, compassionate group of people that—even the ones that disagree with me—are still saying ‘War Eagle’ and welcoming me to campus.”

With this next chapter on The Plains, Hollyhand said he hopes to continue serving Alabama—and shaping the future of conservative leadership from right here in his home state.

Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at grace@yellowhammernews.com.

FOX Nation is rolling out a new, six-part docuseries titled ‘The Tides That Bind: Inside Alabama Football’ this week which follows the highs and lows of the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide football team in their first season after the retirement of Nick Saban and debut year for his replacement Kalen DeBoer.

The series, which debuts on February 19 and drops a new episode weekly, includes interviews from some of the most high profile players and coaches including DeBoer himself along with Jalen Milroe, Ryan Williams, Malachi Moore and many more.

“We are thrilled to bring our viewers this intimate behind the scenes look at the historic Roll Tide football team as they navigate the trials and tribulations of a year in transition,” announced Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson.

The first episode entitled ‘Faith’ highlights the program after what appeared to be a season-defining signature win early in the year over the Georgia Bulldogs where DeBoer earned his first massive victory and Williams established himself as a superstar at the young age of 17 years old.

An entire episode is dedicated to the loss to Vanderbilt as well as Tennessee and the climbs back to the peak from them before a crushing loss to Oklahoma effectively ends any playoff hopes.

According to the descriptions, the fourth installment of the series gives a behind the scenes look at the hectic two days between Saban’s retirement and DeBoer’s hiring.

Viewers will be able to watch through FOX  Nation on any streaming device or platform.

7. Alabama’s playoff hopes took a significant hit with a lopsided loss to Oklahoma, as the Crimson Tide’s offense struggled under quarterback Jalen Milroe. Meanwhile, Auburn reignited its season with a thrilling 43-41 quadruple-overtime upset against No. 15 Texas A&M, keeping their bowl aspirations alive and gaining momentum ahead of the Iron Bowl. With these contrasting performances, both teams are set to clash in a pivotal showdown that could define their seasons​

6. The battle over public library materials continues in Alabama, with ALGOP Chairman John Wahl defending efforts to remove books deemed inappropriate for children. Wahl dismissed the characterization of these actions as “extremist,” framing them instead as a defense of traditional values and parental rights. This controversy highlights the broader national debate over book censorship and the role of public libraries in addressing diverse community standards​.

5. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall recently led efforts to seize hundreds of illegal gambling machines from around the state. These operations targeted facilities that continued to operate slot and electronic bingo machines despite court rulings deeming such activities illegal under state law. Notably, actions were taken against sites like the White Hall Entertainment Center, which had reopened unlawfully, and other locations, with investigations ongoing to ensure compliance with Alabama’s strict gambling regulations​.

4. A bill proposed by State Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Pleasant Grove) seeks to explicitly protect access to contraception, responding to concerns that reproductive rights could face challenges following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The bill ensures citizens’ right to obtain contraceptives and healthcare providers’ right to distribute them, with the provision that the right applies only before an embryo implants in the uterus. While proponents highlight its importance for protecting personal freedoms, critics have raised questions about whether this is even needed or if such a bill would infringe on healthcare providers’ religious beliefs​.

3. Birmingham has recorded 145 homicides in 2024, surpassing the last year’s total of 135 and surpassing its deadliest year in recent history, 2022, with 144 homicides. Despite Mayor Randall Woodfin’s promotional efforts, including a book highlighting his accomplishments, the city struggles with systemic issues driving its rising violence, such as socioeconomic disparities and gun violence, which separates it from other cities in the state where murders are slowing. Critics argue that while achievements are celebrated, urgent solutions to the violence crisis remain elusive while the population shrinks, with many calling for comprehensive reforms and community-focused initiatives​

2. Alabama leaders have expressed strong support for Donald Trump’s nomination of Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, following the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz. Notable figures like Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) praised Bondi’s legal expertise and commitment to conservative values, emphasizing her readiness to address key national issues. Bondi, a former Florida Attorney General, has a long history with Trump, serving on his legal team and contributing to his opioid and drug abuse initiatives, making her nomination a point of celebration among Alabama Republicans.

1. President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary has ignited criticism from conservatives who label her a pro-union “RINO,” citing her support for the PRO Act and policies opposing right-to-work laws. Labor advocates, including Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, have praised the pick, viewing it as a pro-worker move and a nod to unions that supported Trump’s electoral coalition. Adding to conservative concerns, Trump’s Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, a former partner of George Soros in the 1990s, faces scrutiny for launching his current fund, Key Square Group, with a $2 billion investment from Soros himself.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

The Alabama Crimson Tide earned one of their best regular season victories in years this past weekend with the 41-34 triumph over the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that was billed as the matchup of the century and lived up to the billing.

The Tide rolled to a 28-0 lead and a 30-7 halftime advantage, but Georgia did not go away quietly. In front of a stunned Bryant-Denny crowd, the Bulldogs mounted a furious comeback and took the lead 34-33 with just over two minutes left to play.

But the lead would not last long as freshman superstar Ryan Williams made the play of his life on the next play of the ensuing drive, scoring a 75-yard touchdown to put Alabama back in the lead.

Crimson Tide Sports Network’s Chris Stewart delivered an all-time call of the play:

https://x.com/UA_Athletics/status/1840244233245999260

Thus far this season, Williams has 16 catches for a ridiculous 462 yards and five touchdowns. He seems to be getting better every single week and showed up in the biggest moment of his career on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

The sky is the limit for how good Williams can be — but it’s safe to say he will be delivering Chris Stewart plenty more epic calls this season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide is just days away from kicking off the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa.

While it’s going to be strange for a while not seeing Nick Saban on the sidelines, the feeling among Alabama fans across the globe certainly feels like one more of excitement than sadness as DeBoer gets set to begin his first year.

However, the new head coach at the University of Alabama will have to be careful as he navigates the season, as there is an ugly trend among the last six Alabama coaches even including Nick Saban that he will have to avoid.

Revealed in a statistic shared by ‘CFB Kings’, five of the last six coaches at Alabama have lost to a Group of 5 team in their first season in Tuscaloosa. Saban infamously lost 21-14 to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007 en route to a 7-6 record in year one, but the trend goes a lot further back than that.

RELATED: DeBoer on embracing Saban’s legacy – ‘Just building on it’

Before Saban, Mike Shula lost 19-16 to Northern Illinois at home during his first season in 2003. Only Dennis Franchione, who left Alabama for Texas A&M after two seasons, was immune from the black stain of a Group of 5 loss among the last six Tide coaches. 

Before Franchione, Mike DuBose lost to Louisiana Tech by a score of 26-20 at home in his first season in 1997, while Gene Stallings before him also lost at Bryant-Denny to Southern Miss by a score of 27-24 in 1990.

Finally, going all the way back to 1987, Bill Curry lost to Memphis on the road by a score of 13-10.

In 2024 under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama will play in three of these matchups. The first is the opener this weekend against Western Kentucky, the second is next week against South Florida, and the third is on November 16 against Mercer.

It would be a spectacular upset if the Tide were to somehow lose one of these three home games, but DeBoer must not rest on his laurels.

It’s happened before, it could happen again.

The Alabama Crimson Tide sit just weeks away from the beginning of their first season without Nick Saban leading the team out of the tunnel since 2006.

August 31 will mark the start of a new era led by Kalen DeBoer and his staff when the Tide takes the field against Western Kentucky. But as the season draws closer and closer, it’s impossible for fans not to scan the whole schedule eagerly anticipating the games they look forward to most.

During the 2024 season, as always, the Crimson Tide will play in some huge games. But which is the biggest on the schedule as DeBoer gets set to embark on the biggest challenge of his career?

Is it the first road trip for the team up to Madison, Wisconsin in a non-conference clash with the Badgers? Or perhaps the home game against the only coach to challenge Nick Saban for his crown at the top of college football, Kirby Smart? Or is it the in-state rivalry matchup between the Auburn Tigers and the Tide?

I would contend that none of these games are as big on Alabama’s schedule this season as the Third Saturday in October when the Crimson Tide head back to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

Alabama could face adversity against a Josh Heupel-led Tennessee offense with a Crimson Tide defense that many have called into question. Additionally, the Tide were absolutely torched in the passing game in Knoxville last time. Throw in the fact that Tennessee wants to beat Alabama as badly as anyone else in the country, and there should be some fireworks in Neyland Stadium on October 19.

It’s entirely possible that by the time this game rolls around, the Tide could already have a loss on their resume considering they play Georgia so early in the year, in which case a second loss would push the team’s playoff hopes to the brink of extinction.

Despite being nearly five months removed from retiring, Nick Saban has been a busy man in 2024. He’s been spotted relaxing at the Masters, giving advice at Senate roundtables on Capitol Hill, and providing commentary on NFL Draft broadcasts.

How does Saban prepare for his travels? The former coach told ABC 33/40 that he relies on another Alabama legend: James Spann.

Nick Saban on who he gets his weather reports from when traveling and hitting the golf course: @abc3340 @spann

" I call James Spann and say what's the weather look like in Dallas? I don't want to get caught in any thunderstorms and he's always right on." pic.twitter.com/KXJgAnToaR

— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) May 2, 2024

“I’ve been flying all over the country to speak,” said Saban. “I call James Spann and say, ‘what’s the weather look like in Dallas? We’re flying over there today and I don’t want to get into any kinds of storms.'”

“He’s always right on, so I appreciate that,” the coach laughed.

The longtime friends have shared an open line of communication for a long time. After the Crimson Tide’s loss to Tennessee in October 2022, Saban joked that he was thinking about retiring to work with Spann.

“If we don’t start playing better, I was gonna see if you had openings at your place and be an assistant. I watch The Weather Channel, so I feel like I’m an expert,” Saban said.

Spann was a frequent guest on “Hey Coach & The Nick Saban Show” and would brief the Crimson Tide on the weather before games, going as far as to call Saban “a weather dweeb, a total weather dork.”

Charles Vaughan is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. 

The 2023 version of the Alabama Crimson Tide, while it did not accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a national championship, is still a team that made history in numerous ways and will be remembered fondly.

For one, it was the last iteration of a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team.

But beyond that, even according to Saban himself, the team improved more over the course of a season than any other team in the Nick Saban era.

Struggling mightily through the first month, the Tide strung together 11 consecutive wins, went undefeated in the SEC, and defeated Georgia in Atlanta to end the Bulldogs’ chance at a 3-peat.

For the team’s efforts, they were rewarded with a ring to commemorate an SEC title that seemed improbable, if not impossible, for large parts of the early portion of the year.

https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1780006141751071065

A team and moment I’ll never forget ❤️🐘 pic.twitter.com/e5eDlbalTs

— CJ Dippre (@CjDippre) April 15, 2024

Alabama’s social media accounts also posted video from behind the scenes at A-Day with team captains giving Saban his ring, to which he noted the size of it and expressed his appreciation. He also addressed the team during their morning walk-through before the spring clash:

https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1780280936052973784

As Alabama enters a new era, the program gave a final nod to the accomplishments of Saban’s final team before turning the page to 2024 and the pursuit of more hardware.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Alabama fans hoping to see the retro “Block A” logo more have something to look forward to.

The Crimson Tide men’s basketball social media page in two separate posts Monday afternoon teased the release of new uniforms, and in one post the Block A logo can be seen with a white jersey background:

2.17.24 pic.twitter.com/dsEZsMOYxm

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 12, 2024

👀 pic.twitter.com/5rwOWRLKrm

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 12, 2024

About two hours after the first two posts, the official release was made with a video featuring Mark Sears, Rylan Griffen, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., and Grant Nelson:

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 for the Crimson Tide! pic.twitter.com/tusmd4Hacf

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 12, 2024

Nate Oats also spoke to the Birmingham Tip Off Club on Monday afternoon and was asked by reporters about the new uniform possibility.

“I did hear something about that,” Oats said to reporters. “The players are all fired up. I think they did a quick peek for the players. … It’s for this weekend’s game cause I think they’re bringing back (Antoine) Pettway’s team that won.”

With this year being the 20th anniversary of Alabama’s only elite eight appearance, Oats all but confirmed that the 2004 squad will be brought back on Saturday for a ceremony.

Pettway was an assistant at Alabama since 2008 but left this past offseason to take the head coaching job at Kennesaw State.

There seems to have been a push lately for the old retro A logo, with even new head football coach Kalen DeBoer seemingly sporting it every time he gets the chance.

Alabama will don the uniforms this weekend against Texas A&M, a game that will tip off in Coleman Coliseum at 11 A.M. CST.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

The 88th Iron Bowl did not disappoint, with the Crimson Tide coming out on top with a 27-24 victory in a matchup where all looked lost for Alabama at the end. After Alabama took over via an Auburn muffed punt trailing 24-20 in the game’s final minutes, an errant Alabama snap forced the Crimson Tide back to the 31-yard line with goal to go.

Down to its final chance on 4th and 31, Jalen Milroe delivered a perfect ball to the corner of the end zone to find Isaiah Bond for the Alabama score and put the Crimson Tide up by a field goal with just over 30 seconds left:

https://twitter.com/TDAlabamaMag/status/1728564588126359946

Alabama was able to make a stop at the end and come away with the win to end the regular season 11-1 and head to Atlanta next week to take on Georgia still with a chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Of course, most of the talk (and rightfully so) will be about the 4th down play, but this was one of the better Iron Bowls in history.

A back and forth first half saw Alabama leading 17-14 after the Tide threw the first punch on its opening drive via a Roydell Williams score to finish a phenomenal 8 play, 69-yard opening drive:

Roydell Williams gets in to cap off a great opening drive for Alabama.
pic.twitter.com/SRokqwhhf7

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) November 25, 2023

Auburn would wind up tying things via a Damari Alston 4-yard run later in the quarter after the Tide offense stalled out to finish off a 5 play, 68-yard drive for the Tigers:

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1728521903198118006

Auburn would wind up taking the lead 14-10 in the final minutes of the first half after Ja’Varrius Johnson was able to escape and Payton Thorne found him wide open for a score. The lead did not last long, however, with Jalen Milroe finding Jermaine Burton for a bomb to put the Tide up 17-14 at the break:

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1728534102427717983

https://twitter.com/TDAlabamaMag/status/1728535782523019749

Alabama would open up a 6-point lead early in the second half via a Will Reichard field goal, but it was the only points Alabama had until the 4th and 31 play. The second touchdown of the game for Ja’Varrius Johnson put Auburn on top 21-20, where they stayed until the bitter end for the Tigers:

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1728549017947386050

They say there’s something about the Iron Bowl in this stadium, and recently, that’s proved to be the case. Alabama barely escaped in 2021 and now again in 2023 after losing in both 2017 and 2019.

But Alabama survives this one, and lives to fight another day in the race for the College Football Playoff.

Throughout the first few weeks of the season, while there have been flashes, not many would say that Alabama was “playing good”. Certainly at least not up to the standard that Nick Saban has established throughout his more than 15 years in Tuscaloosa.

Saturday’s 40-17 victory over Mississippi State felt like the first full, 60 minute performance by the 2023 Crimson Tide against an actual opponent.

After the game, Saban revealed his secret sauce for getting the team to play better, saying that Miss Terry “told me if we’re not playing good, to get on their butt.”

“Miss Terry told me if we’re not playing good, to get on their butt.” #nicksaban #alabamafootball #rolltide pic.twitter.com/3RRXbWWxAV

— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) October 1, 2023

After a performance like that, perhaps Coach should continue to take advice from Miss Terry with regards to coaching philosophy and getting this team to play right.

They’ll continue to need it moving forward.

Last week at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the second half against Ole Miss felt — for the first time, in a very long time — like Crimson Tide football fans have become accustomed to.

An out-muscling of an inferior opponent where Alabama ran the ball successfully and played phenomenal defense. And last week we said, maybe Alabama has found an identity.

That identity continued into Starkville late Saturday night with a dominant 40-17 road win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Perhaps the thing that most displayed that identity is the fact that Jalen Milroe only threw 12 passes total (he completed 10 of them for 164 yards). Milroe was also Alabama’s leading rusher carrying 11 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns including an electric 53-yard score that was the game’s opening touchdown:

HOUSE CALL! 🏠📞@JalenMilroe

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/WkzCmVgPTR

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 1, 2023

The Crimson Tide displayed their superiority over the Bulldogs by way of a Chris Braswell pick six right after that which would put Alabama up 14-0.

It never really felt close for Alabama on Saturday night. It was the kind of performance that felt like a turning back of the clock for the Crimson Tide where they go on the road and just completely squeeze the life out of a team they are much better than.

Will Reichard was phenomenal too, nailing all four of his field goals and remaining perfect on the season.

But perhaps the most impressive performance of the night belongs to Jihaad Campbell. In the absence of Deontae Lawson, who has established himself as a star already this season, Campbell stepped up with 14 tackles, 1 for a loss, as well as his first career interception.

The Crimson Tide motto under Nick Saban has always been “next man up” and Saturday was no different. Lawson may remain out for multiple weeks with that ankle injury he suffered last week, so it is worth keeping an eye on the development of Campbell.

Next up for the Tide is another road trip to College Station to take on Texas A&M, who is fresh off a win against Arkansas and will look to firmly throw their hat in the ring for the SEC West with a win over the Tide.

Charles Barkley is no stranger to hot takes.

The former Auburn great as well as current NBA on TNT host appeared on NextRoundLive and was asked about a litany of topics, but the answers he gave on both his alma mater as well as its biggest rival were the most eye-popping of the entire segment.

With a huge matchup for the Tigers coming up against Georgia this week, Barkley was asked whether or not he hates Georgia.

“Not really. I mean I hate Alabama, that’s a different animal. You can’t have that much hate in your heart, number one,” Barkley began.

He went on to clarify, however, that his hatred of Alabama lies more so with the fan base rather than Nick Saban and the program itself.

“I really don’t hate Alabama, I just hate their fans, they’re obnoxious. They lost two games last year and it was like oh, kill us now. That was the end of the world. Then after they lost to Texas it was like oh my god. You’ve got the greatest coach ever and they’re a bunch of ungrateful brats,” Barkley stated.

You can hear the full quote here:

.@RyanBrownLive asked Charles Barkley if he hates Georgia.

His response: “Not really…” Barkley goes on to say “I really don’t hate Alabama I just wanna beat them. I hate their fans cause they’re obnoxious…” pic.twitter.com/yLCJyEuXlF

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2023

Another topic that came up was the Auburn offensive issues and quarterback play.

In a joking reference to Freeze’s players being baptized, Barkley said to please pray for better quarterback play.

“If y’all are gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play. Let’s get these three quarterbacks and baptize them and maybe they can play better,” Barkley joked.

He continued, “the one thing you can’t do as a coach, you can’t have your QB playing scared looking over his shoulder. You can’t play three quarterbacks, you can’t play two quarterbacks. The number one thing you need as a QB is confidence, and right now they’re in no mans land.”

You can hear the entire answer on the QB situation here:

“If y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play…” Charles Barkley on Auburn’s QB play pic.twitter.com/ivSSUjfjoN

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2023

The University of Alabama is upping its Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) game.

Big time. 

UA Athletics is expanding a long-time partnership with sports technology company Learfield to open The Advantage Center in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The duo are building a real home for the Crimson Tide’s more than 650 student-athletes across 21 sports programs. The center will showcase local and national NIL brand/sponsor relationships as they look to maximize their NIL opportunities. 

🚨 NOW OPEN! 🚨

Alabama Athletics and LEARFIELD open The Advantage Center at Bryant-Denny Stadium – a unique NIL facility to provide resources, education & support to Crimson Tide student-athletes.

Read More: https://t.co/Y8HO8bWgPa#RollTide | @Learfield pic.twitter.com/hJ2ycL7Y8t

— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) September 22, 2023

“We’ve been looking forward to opening the doors of The Advantage Center from the day we started discussing this concept,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. “Having a dedicated, multifunctional space for our student-athletes to do things like record podcasts, film videos in a green room, engage with brand partners and participate in educational workshops was very important to us, and we’re appreciative of Learfield for taking this idea and making it come to life. 

RELATED: Check out where Alabama, Auburn stars rank in NIL

“The University of Alabama offers a great academic, athletic and social experience and provides a stage and, now with the addition of The Advantage Center, a structure around it to support our student-athletes at the highest level when it comes to NIL.”

The center will feature Learfield staff helping student-athletes create original content for their NIL activities. There will also be access to social media content specialists, a production studio and meeting spaces for brand engagement and planning, along with other amenities to enhance the NIL experience.

RELATED: Tuscaloosa scores first Sports Illustrated college town resort 

The center was designed and built by Alabama-based firms Davis Architects and Harrison Construction, which was recently recognized by the Alabama State Chapter of the Association of Builders and Contractors with the 2023 Excellence in Construction Award for its work on the Advantage Center. 

“The University of Alabama is a long-time Learfield partner, and it’s been an honor to collaborate with Greg and his team to deliver one of the most innovative NIL resources in college athletics,” said Learfield President and CEO Cole Gahagan.

“NIL is evolving by the day, and the launch of the Advantage Center is just one more example of how the Learfield team is leading on practically every front – creating more opportunities for student-athletes, school partners, and brand sponsors.”

Tuscaloosa was recently named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 best U.S. college towns. This week it was also selected as the first college town location for a new line of Sports Illustrated resorts. 

The planned resort will be across the Black Warrior River from the University of Alabama. It looks remarkable: 

Sports Illustrated is launching sports-themed resorts in top college towns — starting with Tuscaloosa, AL.

• Full-service hotel
• Vacation club
• Residential condos

It's set to open in late 2025. pic.twitter.com/p7gNEUSbHv

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 20, 2023

The resort will house world-class dining options, entertainment venues, a signature SI Fit Health/Wellness Center and more. Members of the Sports Illustrated vacation club will benefit from a flexible points-based system that enhances their overall resort experience.

RELATED: Check out where Alabama and Auburn stars rank in NIL

Travel + Leisure Co. is leveraging its expertise in managing multiple brand partnerships for the development, distribution, and management for the Sports Illustrated vacation club product.

“We’re excited to be working with the Sports Hospitality Ventures team to create a custom club experience for passionate sports fans,” said Geoff Richards, chief operating officer of vacation ownership at Travel + Leisure Co.

“Our vision for this entirely new vacation club is to provide members a unique opportunity to totally immerse themselves in gameday life with a piece of their favorite college town, plus flexibility to travel away with their team and beyond.”

RELATED: Barstool’s Portnoy serves up pizza review scores in T-Town

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

In a candid moment on “60 Minutes,” Deion Sanders said he might be the best coach in college football right now.

But he quickly shifted focus to Nick Saban.

The first-year University of Colorado head coach has led his team to a 3-0 start, one year after the Buffaloes finished 1-11.

When asked who’s the best coach in college football today, Sanders said:

“Let me see a mirror so I can look at it.”

Here’s what Coach Prime had to say about Nick Saban during his appearance on “60 Minutes” Sunday night.

🎥: “60 Minutes” pic.twitter.com/A7vKMCTC9b

— Tuscaloosa Patch (@TuscaloosaPatch) September 18, 2023

Sanders also had another legend in mind. 

“I love and I adore and I respect, and every time I do a commercial with Coach Saban – it’s a gift,” Sanders said of their Aflac TV commercials. “Just sitting in his presence and hearing him, and throwing something else out there so I can hear his viewpoint on it.

“Because he’s forgotten more things than I may ever accomplish. 

“So I’m a student looking up to this wonderful teacher, saying ‘just throw me a crumb of what you know.’”

RELATED: Saban turns it around on caller on ‘Hey Coach’

Saban previously said he has “as much respect for [Sanders] as anyone in our profession.”

“We’re both interested in trying to improve our program, how we sort of motivate players, how we inspire people to do things at a high standard and a high level all the time,” Saban said this year. “So that interaction has been positive for me.”

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 

After a Saturday night win in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian gave credit to his former mentor and boss, Nick Saban.

While Saban and Sarkisian’s teams battled it out tonight, amounting to a 34-24 victory for Texas, Saban gave him a shot when no one other programs would.

He hired Sarkisian as an analyst in 2016 after alcoholism led to his firing at USC before ultimately rehiring him as offensive coordinator in the 2019 and 2020 season.

Alabama falls to Texas 34-24 🏈 Coach Sark takes the podium after beating his old boss

“I would not be standing here in front of you guys if it wasn’t for Nick Saban. The University of Alabama and Nick Saban changed my life.” pic.twitter.com/u94yH4OeTY

— Olivia Whitmire (@omwhitmireTV) September 10, 2023

“I would not be standing here in front of you guys if it wasn’t for Nick Saban,” Sarkisian told reporters on Saturday night. “The University of Alabama and Nick Saban changed my life.”

In 2020, coaching at UA, Sarkisian was discovered to have a life-threatening congenital heart disorder during a physical exam Saban encourages his staff to undergo annually.

Sarkisian was quickly sent into emergency surgery — which proved successful, despite the severity of his condition.

How it started vs. how it's going 👀

Sarkisian becomes Saban's first former assistant to defeat Saban in Tuscaloosa. pic.twitter.com/eS4OXGDTU8

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 10, 2023

“I think Sark is one of the best coaches we’ve ever been around when it comes to offense,” Saban said ahead of Saturday’s game against Texas.

“Sark did a great job here for us. He’s doing a great job in Texas and it’s gonna be a very challenging game. They recruit well, they coach well. They’ve got good players and they’re well-coached.”

“I like giving people second chances,” Saban said. “I think that their willingness to do the right things and whatever their mistakes were, they’re trying to fix it and look for an opportunity.”

“He represented the program well, he’s first class in every way, so I was glad I gave him a second chance.”

The Longhorns became the first visiting team since LSU in 2019 to claim victory on Alabama’s home turf, at that time leading to the Tigers winning the College Football Playoff.

Reflecting on the reception he got from Alabama fans upon returning to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Sarkisian jokingly told reporters he was surprised.

“We had so many great memories. Why are they booing me?” he asked with a grin.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 

Every Monday, right here you can read Tide Takes, where we’ll get into a different topic on the Crimson Tide, break down the previous game, preview the upcoming game, and everything in between.

In this week’s edition, the Crimson Tide are officially 1-0, Jalen Milroe is QB1, and Texas is coming to town next week. Let’s break down what we saw in week one and what we could see in week two:

First and foremost, props to Milroe. And before you say it, yes I understand it was just a game against Middle Tennessee State and one where Alabama was supposed to blow the doors off them. That being said, Milroe played as well as one could have possibly hoped for in week one. He looked more poised as a passer, electric as always as a runner, and overall just more comfortable and ready to go.

Milroe was the first QB in Alabama history to throw for three touchdowns and rush for two in a single game. He finished with nearly 200 yards passing along with being the Tide’s leading rusher with 48 yards. It was about as good as you could have hoped for.

JALEN MILROE 🤯🤯 @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/bLRL5crzHx

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 2, 2023

It appears Nick Saban got the decision right. Now, does this mean Milroe is an elite quarterback? Probably not. He did make a couple of throws he was lucky to get away with along with the fact that he does not have the strongest arm. But Alabama doesn’t need Milroe to be Bryce Young. They simply need him to be efficient and effective, and he was certainly that.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the fact that Ty Simpson has been demoted to QB3 duties behind Tyler Buchner. It makes you wonder, what went wrong for Simpson over the past couple of months? Whether it be too many turnovers, a lack of understanding of the playbook, or a combination of both, seeing Simpson in true mop-up duty was not something Alabama fans expected.

One game in, for better or worse, Milroe is the quarterback. Of course, next week is the first real test under pressure, but Milroe did what he was supposed to do and should continue to improve.

Another encouraging sign from Saturday was the defense. Kevin Steele appears to have brought back a level of nastiness to Alabama that the defense has been missing over the last few seasons. The unit looked fast, aggressive, and hungry. Deontae Lawson was fantastic and is on the verge of being a star, as is Caleb Downs.

Someone else I was extremely impressed with, though he only had four carries, was freshman running back Justice Haynes. Haynes averaged over 7 yards a touch on those 4 carries and seems to have a different gear than the rest. He will prove to be too good to keep off the field as the season goes along.

So now we arrive at Texas. The Longhorns are without a doubt talented enough to come in to Bryant-Denny Stadium and win this game.

In Milroe’s first real test, Alabama will need to turn it up a notch to avoid an early season loss. Complimentary football will be the name of the game. Avoid turnovers, play solid defense, and Alabama should beat Texas.

Alabama is facing one of its toughest early season tests in recent memory. But the biggest question of the offseason has been answered, and the Crimson Tide have its QB. And no, Milroe is not Bryce Young. Nobody is, and it’s not a fair comparison.

But he can be Jalen Milroe. And maybe, just maybe, he is a pretty dang good quarterback too.

You can follow Michael Brauner on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

The Tide will see Jalen Milroe step up as the starting quarterback in their season opener against Middle Tennessee this Saturday, according to ESPN.

Milroe, the redshirt sophomore, emerged as the pick in a tight preseason race over Tyler Buchner, redshirt freshmen Ty Simpson, and true freshman Dylan Lonergan.

RELATED: This weekend’s college football TV schedule

We learned about the call one before the showdown with Middle Tennessee at Bryant Denny Stadium.

Jalen Milroe will start at QB for @AlabamaFTBL in Saturday’s opener against Middle Tennessee State, sources tell ESPN. Milroe has taken most of the first-team reps this preseason while competing with Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner and freshmen Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan.

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) September 1, 2023

Milroe is set to step into the shoes of Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, who shook out as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. by the Carolina Panthers.

Nick Saban did not publicly name Milroe as the starter during his Thursday show. But he did hint at having made his decision known to the quarterbacks, sources say.

Saban also expressed a desire to showcase multiple quarterbacks in the opening game against MTSU.

RELATED: Across the South: Games to watch this weekend

While the question of who will be Alabama’s quarterback in week one has been answered, Saban has been sure to communicate the conditional nature of the QB spot.

“I do think one thing, and I know everybody’s going to be interested in this whole quarterback situation, is the quarterback who plays on Saturday, that’s the quarterback for Saturday,” Saban said.

“The life of a quarterback, any quarterback, depends on how they perform.”

“If a guy plays well, that’s what creates security at that position, and if you don’t play well, because the first thing everybody does when you have success, the quarterback gets a lot of credit. But also, when things don’t go well, the first guy they point at is the quarterback. So a guy’s got to understand that the way he performs is really, really important.”

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

Every week, On3 updates their list of college football players and their estimated NIL valuations. It’s no secret that Alabama lacks the same star power it has had in years past, certainly at least at the quarterback position. 

The days of Alabama’s quarterback making a million dollars in NIL before they even take a snap are (for now) gone. Fascinatingly, though, another quarterback who has yet to take a college snap tops the rankings currently. Texas QB Arch Manning edges out reigning Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams, with an estimated $2.9 million valuation compared to Williams’ $2.6 million. 

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the current rankings though is the lack of Alabama players anywhere near the top of the list. The Crimson Tide sees its first player ranked at #42 in Kool-Aid McKinstry ($708k).

In fact, the Auburn Tigers see their first player ranked before Alabama, with star running back Jarquez Hunter sitting at 33rd on the list ($785k). While Hunter is the only current Tiger in the top-100, former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (now at Oregon) is actually 3rd with a valuation of $1.7 million. 

While Alabama does not have a player inside the top-40, they do have guys littered throughout the list, with a total of seven players inside the top-100. Star offensive tackle JC Latham ranks 44th at $680k, while incoming freshman safety and future superstar Caleb Downs sits at 51st and $609k.

Pass rusher Dallas Turner, who expectations are high for this year ranks 60th with $569k. Right behind him is incoming JUCO transfer wide receiver Malik Benson at 61 with $562k. Benson is poised for a big year in an Alabama receiver room that is desperate for a #1 guy. 

Rounding out the list for the Crimson Tide are two more incoming freshmen. 5-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is 84th on the list with $467k, and 5-star pass rusher Keon Keeley is 86th with $455k. 

It is certainly a different era in college football with players able to profit off their name and likeness. Look for many of the Crimson Tide players to continue to rise up the list as they begin to make names for themselves throughout their Alabama careers. 

You can check out the entire top-100 from On3 here.

Michael Brauner is a staff writer with WNSP Mobile.

Every Wednesday right here you can read Across the South, where we’ll get into a different topic on the SEC, break down the biggest matchups of the previous week, preview the coming week’s slate, and talk about where things stand in the best conference in the land!

In this week’s edition, it’s finally game week! While SEC play doesn’t officially start for a few weeks, there are plenty of exciting matchups to keep your eye on this weekend. Let’s break down some of them here:

Florida at No. 14 Utah (Thursday)

What better way to kick off week one than seeing an SEC team hit the road tomorrow night against a ranked opponent with a star senior quarterback and one of the most underrated coaches in college football?

This will be the second leg of a home and home after the Gators defeated the Utes 29-26 in an opening game thriller where Florida came back to win in the fourth quarter.

Utah got their season back on track after the loss and quarterback Cameron Rising was able to help defeat USC twice and lead Utah to a PAC-12 title. Kyle Whittingham always seems to have a solid team at Utah, and this is going to be quite a challenge for a Florida team that will be starting Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz at QB.

But, Rising’s health is in question after a torn ACL in the Rose Bowl against Penn State and it’s a question mark whether or not he even plays, but either way, Utah is still the better team.

Virginia at No. 12 Tennessee (Nashville)

On paper, this game should be a beatdown, with the Vols favored by 28 points. Virginia is coming off a 3-7 season after its final two games of 2022 were cancelled in the aftermath of an on-campus shooting that tragically saw three players on the team killed and another wounded.

While Tennessee is the much better team, it is a week one power-five matchup and an opportunity for fans to see the new look offense in Knoxville. All eyes will be on Joe Milton III, who is taking over QB1 duties from Hendon Hooker after Hooker’s marvelous 2022.

Milton III has the strongest arm in college football and was fantastic in the Orange Bowl against Clemson, but thus far is still unproven.

If Milton III can reach his ceiling, there is no limit to how good the Tennessee offense can be this season. He will get a chance on Saturday to display whether or not he has improved his accuracy enough to be a reliable signal caller for the Vols.

No. 21 North Carolina at South Carolina

The Tar Heels and Gamecocks have not played against each other since 2021, with South Carolina winning 38-21. The Gamecocks were able to turn their season around in year two of the Shane Beamer era with back to back wins over Tennessee and Clemson to end the regular season where Spencer Rattler was brilliant in both.

With some momentum headed into year three, a home game against a ranked Tar Heels team offers a great opportunity to start the year.

UNC leads the all-time series 35-20 and has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Drake Maye.

Head coach Mack Brown has been very impressive in his four seasons in Chapel Hill, leading the Tar Heels to bowl appearances in each season as well as an appearance in the ACC championship last year after a 9-3 year.

This is one of the most fascinating matchups in week one.

No. 5 LSU at No. 8 Florida State (Orlando)

Another rematch of last year’s opener, this was one of the wildest games of the season in 2022. Jayden Daniels struggled all night for the Tigers before leading a 99-yard touchdown drive in the game’s final minutes that should have sent it to OT, but a blocked extra point ended the game in regulation.

Neither team was ranked in last year’s edition, but after great seasons for both teams, this is now a top-10 matchup.

This is the marquee game of week one, and it will be played Sunday night. Even though it is just week one, both teams have playoff hopes, and this game could go a long way towards determining who ultimately will qualify for college football’s Final Four.

Michael Brauner is a staff writer with WNSP Mobile.