Crimson Tide

Sportswriters have no end of Rose Bowl story lines as the Crimson Tide prepares to face Indiana (for the first time ever—one more angle.) Observers didn’t know that when Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe was stopped on a fourth down in overtime by Michigan in 2023 that Nick Saban had coached his final game for Alabama.

Alabama and Indiana couldn't have more different football histories. This Indiana team couldn't be more unlike the program's painful past. Alabama will play No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in a national quarterfinal matchup between a blue blood and the ultimate upstart. Alabama is one of the most successful programs in college football, with six national titles this century. Indiana has never won a New Year’s Six game and has no bowl victories since 1991.

Memphis has hired former Alabama associate head coach Charles Huff as football coach after his one season at Southern Miss. Athletic director Ed Scott announced the hiring with Huff replacing Ryan Silverfield, who left for Arkansas at the end of November.

Arizona took over the top spot in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll, a reward for a perfect start to the season that includes a quartet of wins against ranked foes, including a lopsided victory over Auburn last weekend. Alabama remained at No. 12.

After number three ranked Georgia closed an 11-1 regular season with its eighth straight win over Georgia Tech last week, coach Kirby Smart was asked about his senior class dominating its top rivals through four seasons. Smart replied with a reminder that Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee do not form a complete list of the Bulldogs' biggest rivals. Tuscaloosa, for instance.

Deuce Knight amassed 401 total yards and tied a school record accounting for six touchdowns and Auburn beat lower-division Mercer 62-17 on Saturday.

Six different players scored touchdowns, including two apiece from Kevin Riley and AK Dear, and No. 10 Alabama cruised to a 56-0 win against lower-division Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Alabama held out a few key players — receiver Germie Bernard, center Parker Brailsford and tight end Josh Cuevas — with the Iron Bowl on tap next week.

Braden Smith scored 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and No. 2 Purdue beat eighth-ranked Alabama 87-80 on Thursday night in the first matchup of top-10 teams this season.

Alabama's first game away from home didn't go well. That puts much on the line for No. 17 Alabama when it visits No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide's 31-17 season-opening loss at Florida State on August 30 left coach Kalen DeBoer's team with little margin for error. Alabama needs a win over Georgia (3-0, 1-0) to protect its College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama seventy three to zero blow-out of Louisiana Monroe may have left fans of the Crimson Tide breathing easier. The Associated Press and its Top 25 college football ranking appeared only slightly impressed.