Alabama expected to claim top ranking
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is hoping his team can find a way to grow from its first wire-to-wire challenge of the season.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide were challenged Saturday night, but grabbed a 31-24 win over Mississippi State. Leading the way was quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Faced with that high-pressure situation for the first time since a last-second loss to Clemson in the national championship game, Hurts and Alabama delivered.
“We’re a four-quarter team,” Tide wide receiver Cam Sims said Monday. “They came out the first quarter ready and we just had to wear them down. In that fourth quarter, that’s where we came alive.”
Alabama is expected to take over the top spot in the playoff rankings released Tuesday because previous No. 1 Georgia fell 40-17 to Auburn.
Now, the Tide get a breather from SEC games with Saturday’s visit by Mercer, an FCS team. Then comes the Iron Bowl at No. 6 Auburn on Nov. 25 with an SEC West title and berth in the league championship game on the line.
Hurts led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives against Mississippi State, hitting freshman DeVonta Smith for the winning 26-yard score with 25 seconds left. Alabama hadn’t been in that situation that late in a game this season.
“It’s sort of a work in progress all the time to try to continue to grow and develop as a team,” Saban said. “That’s certainly what our focus needs to be if we want to finish the way we’d like to finish.” Honor for Love: Stanford running back Bryce Love was named the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. The junior rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinal upset then-No. 9 Washington 30-22 on Friday to remain in the chase for the Pac-12 North title. Briefly: Nebraska head coach Mike Riley says quarterback Tanner Lee is in the concussion protocol and redshirt freshman Patrick O’Brien would prepare as if he will be the starter for the game Saturday at 13th-ranked Penn State . ... Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, who has been looked at as a possible high NFL draft pick next year, is “day to day” after injuring his right shoulder during the Cowboys’ win over Air Force. Head coach Craig Bohl says it’s too early to say whether Allen will miss Saturday’s game against Fresno State . ... Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley has been suspended indefinitely following his weekend arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and won’t play on Saturday when the Razorbacks host No. 17 Mississippi State.