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FOX ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ analysts discuss if Alabama can bounce back from loss to Tennessee
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama on Oct. 15 lost to Tennessee for the first time since 2006, falling 52-49 via a last-second field goal.
The Crimson Tide now turn their attention to Saturday’s game against Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa as they look to avoid a rare second straight loss. Their last time losing back-to-back games was in 2013 as they lost the Kick Six game to Auburn and the Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma, but it’s not happened in the regular season since 2007.
Can the Crimson Tide get right against the Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium? The FOX “Big Noon Kickoff” analyst team of Reggie Bush, Brady Quinn, and Matt Leinart discussed the topic, with Bush predicting Alabama would “beat the brakes off of” the Mississippi State.
”The loss actually makes (Alabama) better,” Bush said, citing the Tide’s 11-1 record since 2009 coming off a loss. “And then the other unfortunate situation for Mississippi State is that they have to go to Alabama. Those are my 2 main points why I think Alabama’s gonna win. I think Mississippi State’s unlucky. They got to Alabama at the wrong time.”
Leinart cited the Tide’s pass defense as a point of concern, with them facing Will Rogers a week after being carved up by Heisman hopeful Hendon Hooker, as well as their 17 penalties against the Volunteers.
“Those are things as you kind of get into October, November, you have to clean that stuff up,” he said.
While Quinn said Alabama’s penalty woes can be fixed, what can’t be fixed “is the wide receiver position.”
”They’ve got to play hero ball, at least Bryce Young does, every single week. And unfortunately, that’s hard to win that way,” he said. “Put the ball in Jahmyr Gibbs’ hands more. Get that rushing attack going, take some pressure off Bryce Young and a passing attack that is just having a hard time finding that DeVonta Smith or whoever else you want to throw in that they’ve had in recent years.”
Will Alabama bounce back? ?@ReggieBush, @Brady_Quinn, @MattLeinartQB, tells us how @AlabamaFTBL gets back on ?! ?? pic.twitter.com/68V06RQEnG
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2022
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
