Question Alabama at your own risk.

The question entering Saturday night’s showdown against recent nemesis Ole Miss was whether Alabama’s secondary could slow down Shea Patterson.

Levi Wallace provided the early answer, intercepting Patterson and returning it 35 yards for Alabama’s first defensive score of the season.

Jalen Hurts and the offense did the rest, rolling to a 66-3 over the overmatched Rebels. Alabama scored on nine of its first 12 possessions, eight of them resulting in touchdowns. The point total was the most since 1979.

It was decisive … and decided early.

For the second consecutive week, Alabama scored 21 first-quarter points. In addition to Wallace’s score, Jalen Hurts threw for a touchdown and Bo Scarbrough ran for another. Standard stuff.

Hurts faces weekly questions about his throwing. He answered those Saturday, too.

The 3-yard touchdown pass to Hale Hentges was a simple read off play-action, but the 60-strike to Cam Sims that set it up was a progression read.

Hurts’ second touchdown pass was a designed rollout to his right. He had room to tuck and go, but instead stopped, looked back to his left and hit Josh Jacobs in the end zone for a 28-3 lead.

He played into the third quarter before again handing off to Tua Tagovailoa, who led Bama to a touchdown on his first four drives. Hurts finished with 197 passing yards and two scores, and 101 rushing yards and a touchdown. It was his third 100-yard rushing game this season.

Alabama’s defense spent the rest of the night punishing Patterson. Knowing he had to pass, Alabama unleashed the heat. Secondary blitzes were common. Patterson, all to happy to get outside the pocket on a normal play, might have run for more yards eluding pass-rushers than he actually threw for.

It was surprising for its thoroughness if for no other reason than Ole Miss had scored 109 combined points in its past three games against Alabama; nobody else in the SEC had topped 69.

The Rebels struggled Saturday night to reach 109 passing yards.

Patterson, who came in averaging 427 yards per game, had his worst college game to date.

He threw the pick-six — his fifth interception of the season — and had just 99 yards midway through the third quarter. Wallace got him again in the third quarter, and Tagovailoa turned the short field into seven more points, hitting Henry Ruggs III with an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Ronnie Clark, a senior who has battled through numerous injuries, scored his first career touchdown.

Alabama topped 50 points in back-to-back SEC games for the first time in the Nick Saban era and first time since 1945.

The only question now is, can they keep this streak going?

Texas A&M, which entered Saturday ranked 13th in the SEC in scoring defense, is up next.