THE GREAT ALABAMA FOOTBALL CRISIS OF 2026

In the state of Alabama, football is a religion, and Nick Saban is God.

And times in the Heart of Dixie have seldom been bleaker than they currently are.

The Crimson Tide is 3–0.

Yes. 3–0.

But the problem isn't the wins. It's how the games were won.

Winning, it seems, isn't enough for Alabama's diehards anymore. It's how you win.

Scoring 48 against East Carolina isn't enough.

Scoring 45 against Kentucky isn't enough.

Scoring 50 against Florida State isn't enough.

You have to win the Saban way.

I talked to numerous Bama fans, and one statement seemed universal:

“That ain't how Saban would have done it.”

I asked one young fan what he thought about Alabama's second half against Kentucky, when the Tide scored 32 unanswered points to turn a 17–13 deficit into a 45–17 victory.

He put a dip in his lip, spit into a bottle and shook his head.

“Second half? Saban wouldn't need no second half to beat Kentucky. That ain't how Saban done it.”

I reminded him Alabama won by 28 points.

“Yeah,” he said. “Saban wouldn't have been behind to Kentucky.”

Later I spoke with Abbie Birday, a cashier at the local Piggly Wiggly, about Alabama's high-powered passing attack.

“Coach Saban liked to run the ball,” she said while scanning a box of Little Debbie cakes. “We didn't pass until that Lane feller got here. That ain't how Saban done it.”

I pointed out that Lane Kiffin was, in fact, Saban's offensive coordinator.

She looked at me.

“I said what I said.”

The defense isn't escaping criticism, either.

Alabama gave up 36 points to Florida State.

I asked one concerned fan how he felt about Alabama scoring 50.

“That ain't the point.”

“What's the point?”

“We ain't supposed to have to score 50.”

“How many should they score?”

“Thirty-one.”

“Why 31?”

“That's plenty.”

“What if they score 32?”

He shook his head.

“Depends how they got 'em.”

Another gentleman told me Alabama has “lost its identity.”

I asked him what Alabama's identity was.

“Alabama.”

I asked him to elaborate.

“You know. Alabama.”

At this point, I decided further questioning might be dangerous.

The truth is, Alabama is 3–0. They've scored 143 points and won their three games by 38, 28 and 14 points.

But apparently that's not good enough.

Because somewhere in Alabama, a man is sitting on his porch right now, drinking sweet tea and watching a replay of a 50-point victory while muttering:

“Saban would've done it better.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the great Alabama football crisis of 2026.

Not losing.

Not poor offense.

Not bad defense.

Not even bad football.

Winning the wrong damn way.