Bama probably will lose Kiffin

Lane Kiffin has been a head coach with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and in college football with Tennessee and Southern California.

Now after helping Alabama to a national championship last season as the offensive coordinator and the Crimson Tide sitting at No. 1 again, he could land another head coaching position. Fox Sports columnist Stewart Mandel thinks it could happen as early as this coming offseason:

“Make no mistake, he’s going to get another head coaching job, likely after this season. Alabama keeps winning, and CBS keeps showing him on the sideline. His ability to get Jalen Hurts playing at such a high level as a true freshman becomes another line on his resume.”

Mandel offered one suggestion as a possible landing spot.

Fresno State, Kiffin’s alma mater, is 1-6 and all but certain to fire Tim DeRuyter. It would be the perfect low-profile job at a program where he can win, further restore his image and possibly springboard back to a bigger school in the future. — NICK KRUEGER

Texas A&M can’t afford to miss too many tackles

One particular stat might make the difference Saturday in the top-10 matchup between Alabama and Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama has 27 missed tackles this season. In its last game, Texas A&M missed 31 tackles vs. Tennessee. That stat from Steve Palazzo at Pro Football Focus shows just how fundamentally sound the Crimson Tide defense can be. If Alabama continues this trend against Texas A&M and can wrap up against a scrambling Trevor Knight or Josh Reynolds after a catch, it could be a long afternoon for the Aggies.

It also shows Texas A&M will have to improve its technique in order to bring down Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Hurts. The freshman is averaging 5.8 yards per carry on 74 attempts. They’ll also have Bo Scarborough, who averages 6.2 yards per carry. The Aggies can’t afford to miss on either player.

The Crimson Tide have to show up and continue to tackle using the same techniques they have all season. Though it’s certainly not a statistic that will define the game, it’s a telling one about each team’s defensive capabilities. — NICK KRUEGER

Chavis has improved Aggies’ defense

Since arriving at Texas A&M in 2012, Kevin Sumlin has never really worried about this offense.

The defense, however, was in need of a makeover.

“I think we’ve always had confidence offensively,” Sumlin said during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “I think the way we’ve done things there has been a confidence level since we got here. Our defense was something that needed not only a change schematically, but to get some confidence and some pride.”

After three seasons under former defensive coordinator Mark Snyder, in came John Chavis.

In the second season under “Chief,” those questions about the defense’s pride no longer remain. Now, the talking points surround the Aggies’ defensive improvements, and the changes Chavis has brought to College Station.

That was evident Wednesday during the weekly SEC teleconference when Sumlin’s allotted 10-minute media availability was dominated by questions regarding the second-year defensive coordinator.

“I think what he’s brought is an attitude that really started with our defensive players,” Sumlin said. “To give them a reference point or standard of what the defense should look like and what the expectations are defensively. And held them to that standard. That has really kind of bled over into what we want to do (on offense).” — CONNOR SMOLENSKY