Alabama faced a massive setback in its game against Georgia when the Tide DL James Smith was disqualified from the game in the third quarter. As the Bulldogs were marching towards Bama’s goal line, Smith was called for targeting after an official review. The ball was moved to the Alabama 5-yard line, and the home team got a fresh set of downs. This came after Alabama had missed a field goal on its drive to start the second half. While Kalen DeBoer will miss Smith’s services in the remaining portion of the Georgia game, there’s another jeopardy on the line. The DL is set to miss the first half of next week’s Vanderbilt game also.

This was the heavyweight SEC bout marked on everyone’s calendar. Georgia was supposed to take care of business in their home ground. Kalen DeBoer and Bama could have lost and yet gained a moral victory out of it. The ending was anything but expected. 24-21 loss to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. Though Georgia is the team who is going back to the locker room with film to study and mistakes to fix, the Crimson Tide needs to prepare for next week against Vandy without the help of Smith.

The incident occurred at the 7:51 mark in the third quarter. Georgia running back Chauncey Bowens was fighting ahead for yards as Alabama players crashed into him. Bowens’ progress was already stopped by the defense when #23 Smith came crashing into him helmet first. It was completely unnecessary and ended up costing Bama an eventual touchdown, and the loss of a player. Smith is a junior who has notched only 6 solo tackles for this season. Across his three years, he has only been able to get one sack. Smith may not be a standout player, but it is nevertheless a crucial hit to the depth chart.

The game got away from Georgia early. With 3 touchdowns by Ty Simpson in the first half itself, the second half shutout came too little too late. Simpsons was 24 of 36 for 276 yards. His third touchdown was a 2 yard scamper in the waning seconds of the second quarter. Meanwhile Stockton went 13 out of 20 for 130 yards and a score. Georgia chose to run the ball while Alabama opted for the air attack.

The yards gained by both teams may give the outlook of Georgia keeping up with its opponent. But a deeper dive will reveal the cracks. The Bulldogs only had 53 total plays in the game compared to 77 for the Crimson Tide. No interceptions by either team, but a fumble by Nate Frazier. Georgia also gave up 68 yards for 6 penalties compared to just 16 yards for 4 penalties by Alabama. The time of possession is what ends the debate. Just over 24 minutes for Kirby Smart and co. but over 35 minutes of possession for Kalen DeBoer’s squad. Penalty yardage, fumbles, and such a stark difference in possession duration all came together to hand Georgia their first loss of the year. Now both teams records are the same at 3-1. What a difference three weeks makes for narrative shifts in college football. Speaking of shifting the narrative.

Bama takes on Vandy: Pavia mania to meet DeBoer’s redemption arc

The Commodores visit Tuscaloosa on October 4. Usually a visit by Vandy is an automatic W when the Crimson Tide is concerned. But this isn’t Saban’s team anymore. DeBoer may have just taken out the Bulldogs in their own home, but its next opponent could present an equally tricky challenge. This year Vandy is taking no prisoners as Diego Pavia is out to make a statement.

Vanderbilt comes to the game undefeated. 5-0 and second in the SEC. In their latest game, they comfortably took care of the Utah State Aggies 55-35. The score would have been even more lopsided but Utah State was able to get some garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter when it was clear Vandy had let its foot off the gas. Pavia went 26 of 34 for 321 yards and an eye popping 5 touchdowns. He added 79 more with his feet bringing his total to a neat 400 yards of total offense for the night. That is the man DeBoer needs to shut down next week. That too, without James Smith out for the first half due to his ejection.

But DeBoer can worry about that tomorrow. As for today, he is comfortably in control of his own destiny. That unfortunate loss to the Seminoles seems like last season. The team looks fresh and ready to take on anyone in their way. The road ahead is not easy with Missouri, South Carolina, LSU, and Oklahoma looming ahead after the bout with Vandy. But compared to Week 1, this Bama teams looks completely different. It could be too soon to declare, but if the wins keep stacking up, it would appear that Bama fans may just have got their successor to Saban after all.