Dylan Moses
Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) warms up before an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. In a recent Instagram post, Moses detailed his struggles with physical problems “fighting through pain every single game” and disclosed his grandmother's death. “It’s been times I wanted to quit and times I wanted to walk away from my dreams,” he posted. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses anchors young Tide defense

By John Zenor Jan. 07, 2021 04:35 PM EST

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is tackled by Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
NFL prospects everywhere in Alabama-Ohio State title game

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 07, 2021 02:28 AM EST

Alabama fans tailgate outside AT&T Stadium before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Notre Dame at Alabama 1/1/2021

Jan. 01, 2021 01:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2020, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly directs his team during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, File
The Gap: Superpowers hoard talent, leaving ND, others behind

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 30, 2020 02:40 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2020, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly directs his team during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, File
Notre Dame seeking a jumpstart against Alabama in CFP semi

By John Fineran Dec. 29, 2020 04:37 PM EST

FILE - Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade (24) is shown during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. Wade was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team defense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Offense wins championships? CFP defenses face big challenges

By John Zenor Dec. 29, 2020 01:53 PM EST

FILE - Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis (52) is shown during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. Davis was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team offense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Sacrifice and stress: How players handled season of COVID-19

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2020 02:04 AM EST

FILE - Brigham Young offensive lineman Brady Christensen (67) is shown in action in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., in this Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, file photo. Christensen was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team offense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Alabama's Jones, Smith, Harris lead 6 Tide AP All-Americans

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 28, 2020 12:00 PM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks to CBS Sports before an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Alabama at LSU 12/5/2020

Dec. 05, 2020 06:31 PM EST

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) and quarterback Mac Jones (10) celebrate a touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Gary Cosby Jr./The Tuscaloosa News via AP)
SEC midseason awards: Saban, Ojulari, Jones among ''winners'

By John Zenor Nov. 04, 2020 12:14 PM EST

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) cuts back as he runs in the middle of the Mississippi State defense during an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Gary Cosby Jr./The Tuscaloosa News via AP)
Smith, No. 2 Alabama pummel Mississippi State, 41-0

By John Zenor Oct. 31, 2020 10:46 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

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a pass as Auburn linebacker Chandler Wooten (31) tries to tackle him during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Auburn, Ala. DeVonta Smith could be tearing up the NFL instead of the Southeastern Conference. The Alabama standout has 38 receptions for 483 yards and four touchdowns in four games. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
SEC standouts who returned for more finding success so far

By Mark Long Oct. 21, 2020 04:34 PM EDT

Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) runs between Mississippi defenders, including defensive back Jakorey Hawkins (23), during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
No. 2 Alabama beats Ole Miss 63-48 in record SEC outburst

By Chris Burrows Oct. 11, 2020 12:02 AM EDT

Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, center, pulls down a reception between Missouri's Tyree Gillespie, right, and Ishmael Burdine, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
No. 2 Crimson Tide rolls on offense to 38-19 win over Mizzou

By Dave Skretta Sep. 26, 2020 10:34 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, then-Appalachian State head coach Eli Drinkwitz shouts in the second quarter of an NCAA football game against Coastal Carolina, in Boone, N.C. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone more looking forward to spring football than Eli Drinkwitz, the new head coach at Missouri. (Allison Lee Isley/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP, File)
No. 2 Alabama visits Missouri to begin SEC-only campaign

By The Associated Press Sep. 24, 2020 01:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2019, file photo, Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano looks for a receiver during an NCAA college football game against South Carolina in Knoxville, Tenn. Guarantano and the 16th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are about to find out how much having the same offensive coordinator for consecutive seasons can help a quarterback. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
No. 8 Auburn hosts No. 23 Kentucky in SEC's opening weekend

By The Associated Press Sep. 24, 2020 04:05 AM EDT

FILE -In this Nov. 2, 2019, file photo, Florida quarterback Kyle Trask throws a pass against Georgia during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Isolated from coaches, teammates and friends during the coronavirus pandemic, Kyle Trask found plenty of extra free time this offseason. He reviewed each of his performances from his breakout year, trying to find and fix every flaw in hopes of improving the eighth-ranked Gators’ chances of becoming Southeastern Conference and national championship contenders in 2020. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Media picks Alabama to top Florida in SEC championship game

Sep. 23, 2020 04:04 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 - Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) throws against Louisiana Tech during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Ehlinger is a candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Pick Six: From Heisman to Outland, projecting award winners

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 04, 2020 04:09 PM EDT