It’s been a long time since Alabama has truly been deemed a “struggling” team, and the Crimson Tide still remain among the best in the nation. But there’s no question that they look far shakier and more beatable than the team that seemed to be all but a lock to win the national championship year in and year out.

That became even more clear as Alabama came out narrowly on top of a Texas A&M team that has had plenty of issues this year, squeaking by with the 24-20 victory that saw it fall to No. 3 in the national rankings.

“This has now become a pattern of Nick Saban teams in the past couple of years,” Paul Finebaum said when asked about Alabama. “The Texas game a couple weeks ago, Texas A&M. They were more than 3 touchdown favorites in both games. The key to this game was Bryce Young not playing, Milroe the backup was really not ready for that moment. The good news for Alabama we think is that Bryce Young will be back Saturday and they’ll need him desperately because they’re going to Knoxville against one of the most explosive teams in college football.”

There’s no doubt that Tennessee will present a larger challenge to go up against than Texas A&M did and that the Vols have an immensely talented quarterback in Hendon Hooker. If it is anything like last week, it is going to be tough for Alabama to emerge with a win against better competition on Saturday.