Christian Harris
Vanderbilt place kicker Sarah Fuller warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Takeaways: In abnormal season, business as usual for Tide

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 28, 2020 09:22 PM EST

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) lines up a pass against Alabama during an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
No. 2 Alabama, minus Jaylen Waddle, hosts Mississippi State

By John Zenor Oct. 29, 2020 01:29 PM EDT

Mississippi quarterback John Rhys Plumlee stretches toward the goal line, but is stopped short, as Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle (9) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. Alabama won 63-48. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Saban thinks Alabama's defense now has something to build on

By John Zenor Oct. 23, 2020 01:02 PM EDT

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) dances after breaking a Mississippi tackle and scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama's Najee Harris braces for Georgia's stingy defense

By John Zenor Oct. 12, 2020 05:04 PM EDT

Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) drops back to pass against during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Alabama in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama at Ole Miss 10/10/2020

Oct. 10, 2020 08:13 PM EDT

Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, center, celebrates with teammates DeVonta Smith, left, and John Metchie III, right, after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
No. 2 Alabama's electric WR Waddle taking on bigger role

By John Zenor Sep. 28, 2020 03:59 PM EDT

Missouri wide receiver Jalen Knox warms up before an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Alabama at Missouri 9/26/2020

Sep. 26, 2020 05:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2019, file photo, Alabama coach Nick Saban reacts during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against LSU in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama allowed 18.6 points per game nationally last season, good enough for 13th nationally. But it’s still the most the Tide has given up since 2007, Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Alabama coordinator expects better from Crimson Tide defense

By John Zenor Sep. 20, 2020 12:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) is sacked by Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Moses was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first-team, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Roll redemption: No. 3 Alabama aims to restore dominance

By John Zenor Sep. 01, 2020 11:01 AM EDT

Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis (24) grins after a stop of Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU and Alabama defenses gearing up to slow down offenses

By John Zenor Oct. 31, 2019 04:58 PM EDT

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) and running back Najee Harris (22) look back to the sideline for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against New Mexico State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
No. 2 Alabama hosts Southern Miss in another hot day game

By John Zenor Sep. 20, 2019 08:03 AM EDT

Alabama defensive lineman LaBryan Ray (89) hits New Mexico State quarterback Josh Adkins (14), causing a fumble, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama could start 4 freshmen on defense vs Southern Miss

By John Zenor Sep. 19, 2019 01:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban prepares for a team coach photo prior to Alabama's fall camp fan-day NCAA college football scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. This is the time of year when the Southeastern Conference usually validates its claim as the best league in college football by dominating neutral-site nonconference matchups. The SEC is 21-6 in regular-season nonconference games against Power Five opponents at neutral sites since 2012. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
No. 2 Alabama faces New Mexico State in home opener

By The Associated Press Sep. 05, 2019 01:11 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban prepares for a team coach photo prior to Alabama's fall camp fan-day NCAA college football scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. This is the time of year when the Southeastern Conference usually validates its claim as the best league in college football by dominating neutral-site nonconference matchups. The SEC is 21-6 in regular-season nonconference games against Power Five opponents at neutral sites since 2012. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Bama faces Duke to open another season of high expectations

By Paul Newberry Aug. 30, 2019 09:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) is sacked by Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The hits keep on coming for Alabama’s defense in 2019. The latest blow to the second-ranked Crimson Tide defenders was Tuesday’s, Aug. 27, 2019, knee injury to star middle linebacker Dylan Moses. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
No. 2 Alabama's defense absorbs tough hits before opener

By John Zenor Aug. 29, 2019 02:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson in Santa Clara, Calif. For the first time, the defending national champion Clemson Tigers are No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. The Crimson Tide, coming off a 44-16 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff championship, is No. 2. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Alabama LB Dylan Moses out indefinitely with knee injury

Aug. 28, 2019 12:07 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson in Santa Clara, Calif. For the first time, the defending national champion Clemson Tigers are No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. The Crimson Tide, coming off a 44-16 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff championship, is No. 2. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Ruggs: Tide aiming to be 'just like any other Alabama team'

By John Zenor Aug. 26, 2019 04:24 PM EDT

This Aug. 8, 2019, photo provided by Sun Devil Athletics shows Arizona State University freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels at practice in Payson, Ariz. Daniels will become the first Arizona State true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Sun Devils, as he won a four-man competition for the job. (Radmen Niven/Sun Devil Athletics via AP)
Analysis: Arizona State, Auburn, UNC to rely on frosh QBs

By Steve Megargee Aug. 21, 2019 09:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 6,2019, file photo, LSU coach Ed Orgeron, left, gives freshman cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) a pat on the head after talking with him briefly after Stingley fielded a punt during the NCAA college football team's spring scrimmage n Baton Rouge, La. Stingley was the nation’s No. 1 prospect in his class according to Rivals and was rated third according to the 247Sports Composite. Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, File)
Analysis: Arizona State, North Carolina to rely on frosh QBs

By Steve Megargee Aug. 21, 2019 02:05 AM EDT