They used to own these moments. These big games with big rewards that have suddenly become problematic.

The 52 points Tennessee scored last season, or the 32 from LSU. The 41 from Texas A&M and 46 from Florida in previous seasons.

The defense, the foundation of Alabama coach Nick Saban’s historic championship run, went from leaking in big games in previous seasons to sinking last year.

So when defensive coordinator Pete Golding left for Ole Miss — or left before he was demoted, depending on whom you ask — Saban hired longtime successful SEC DC (and former Alabama DC) Kevin Steele for these very moments.

The Third Saturday In October against Tennessee has arrived, and the focus is squarely on Steele and the defense.

“When you get a chance to coach at the University of Alabama for the best coach that’s ever done it, sometimes you look in the mirror and say, ‘Why me?’” Steele said in August.

Because Alabama couldn’t stop Tennessee in 2022. Because Alabama, as far back as the 2020 season, has had problems stopping teams that can throw the ball efficiently and proficiently.

And because Kevin Steele has a history of stopping it. Now, the problem: He’s 0-1 this season.

Steele was brought in because he knows what Saban wants and his defenses are equal parts sound and fundamental and attacking and aggressive — and here’s the key: can cover in the back end. Yet Bama looked a whole lot like Golding’s defenses of the past in a 10-point home loss to Texas.

The Longhorns hit multiple big pass plays last month, and QB Quinn Ewers threw for 349 yards and 3 TDs. Worse, Alabama didn’t get a sack, didn’t force a turnover and Texas converted 43% of 3rd- and 4th-down conversions.

But overlooked since the Texas loss is how the defense clamped down on Ole Miss’ dangerous offense, and how it held Texas A&M to 20 points on the road. Those games, like it or not, are the expectation.

Now here comes Tennessee, and a 2nd chance in a big game for a defense that by nearly every metric is playing better than the 2022 defense. They’re No. 2 in the SEC in scoring defense (16 ppg.) and sacks (26 sacks), No. 3 in total defense (291.6 ypg.) and already have as many interceptions (7) and pick-6s (1) as they had all of last season.

Big plays are down, big stops are up.

It’s time to show just how far the defense has come under Steele in a 2-game stretch against offenses (Tennessee and LSU) that last year had the Alabama defense buckled at the knee. Two games that Steele was hired to help win and change the course of a defense that has struggled of late in big games.

“The thing that’s going to be really important,” Saban said, “is to not give up explosive plays — which was a real issue for us a year ago.”

When Saban makes that statement, you better believe it has been a point of emphasis the entire offseason. It was Saban who wondered aloud this offseason why Alabama wasn’t selected to last year’s Playoff, despite the 2 last-play losses to Tennessee and LSU.

Vegas sharps said Alabama was 1 of the top 4 teams, Saban insisted, but the Playoff selection committee did not. All that did was underscore what Saban believed: the Tide was worthy — and didn’t get there because the defense didn’t get it done when it mattered most.

When Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker was throwing deep and receivers were running free in the secondary, the touchdown after touchdown results had become a trend in big games. But the Alabama offense of years past always had enough to cover just about any mistake.

Until they didn’t.

Until the big plays returned 2 weeks later in a loss to LSU. Until they hit again in a near-loss at Ole Miss.

The same big-play scores that were an issue in 2021, in a 41-38 loss to Texas A&M, or the 42-35 win over Arkansas. Or the big-play problems on defense in the 2020 SEC Championship Game win over Florida — where the Gators scored 46 points and left a touchdown or 2 on the field.

“When you have something to correct, you place an emphasis on it,” Steele said. “You practice, you chart everything and it stays in front of you. And in most cases in life as you know, if you keep something in front of you that you need to correct, most people learn and it’s corrected.”

Case in point: long pass plays of 10+ yards given up. Alabama hasn’t been this good statistically against long pass plays since 2012. The Tide are giving up 6.8 passes of 10+ yards per game.

Alabama gave up 13 to Tennessee in last year’s game, including touchdown passes of 78, 60, 36, 13 and 11 yards.

While Tennessee isn’t the same pass offense it was last season, it’s still a legitimate threat to start a winning streak of its own in the bitter rivalry after snapping a 15-game losing streak to the Tide.

The Vols lead the Power 5 in rush yards per game (231.3), and can set up play-action deep throws with a quarterback (Joe Milton III) who can stretch the field with his big arm.

This Tennessee team is more like Ole Miss of 2022, a team that relied on the run and supplemented it with big throws in the passing game. The Rebels did what they wanted against Alabama for 4 quarters — until they crossed into Alabama territory.

Three Ole Miss drives ended on downs at the Alabama 40, 20 and 12 in a 30-24 loss.

“This process is built, and it started in 2007,” Steele said of Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa. “It hasn’t gone anywhere. Physical and mental toughness and relentless effort.”

Big plays are down, big stops are up.

Now it’s time to own these big game moments again.