TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — If you were expecting anything else than what we saw on Saturday afternoon, then you haven’t been following Alabama football for long.

Alabama typically plays a lackluster game against whichever opponent (usually Mississippi State) follows LSU. They did that Saturday in a 24-0 victory over No. 16 Mississippi State.

Alabama’s offense looked average for most of the afternoon, outside of a few big plays early on. The run game started hot, but cooled once guard Deonte Brown left with an injury. The entire offense looked off once Brown was knocked out, including Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa hasn’t been the surgeon we’ve become accustomed to over the past two weeks. He threw his second interception of the season Saturday and left in the third quarter after taking a big hit to his injured leg.

As Alabama’s offense has come back to Earth, the defense is ascending.

No. 1 Alabama (10-0) pitched its second consecutive shutout on a chilly Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama’s defense was in Nick Fitzgerald’s face on nearly every play, sacking him five times through three quarters. Mississippi State gained less than 50 rushing yards through three quarters. Fitzgerald was held to a negative rushing total.

Alabama came out looking to pound the ball early, rushing 6 times and throwing just twice on its opening drive. Tagovailoa dropped a perfect pass in to tight end Irv Smith Jr for 25 yards. The drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown run from senior Damien Harris to give Alabama the early 7-0 lead.

After the defense forced a quick 3-and-out, Alabama’s offense kept the ground game going with Josh Jacobs. Jacobs carried the ball five times, and capped the drive with a 1-yard score to make it 14-0 late in the first.

Alabama’s offense stalled for a bit as Mississippi State was able to get pressure on Tagovailoa. But the Bulldogs special teams did them no favors, fumbling a punt and giving Alabama’s offense a short field. Tagovailoa found Jacobs in the flat for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 late in the second quarter.

Tagovailoa was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter after taking a shot to his knee. He was taken to the medical tent, and did not return. He finished the day with 164 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. CBS reported that Tagovailoa was dealing with a quad injury.

He was replaced by redshirt freshman Mac Jones, as Jalen Hurts (ankle) is still limited.
None of Alabama’s skill players had an explosive day as the 40-degree weather left everyone running a step or so slower.