Nick Saban got used to life with a star quarterback. The absence of one has got to be causing him the biggest headache of his life.
Jalen Milroe was benched after his critical errors against Texas. Tyler Buchner got the start against USF and looked awful, completing 5-of-14 attempts for just 34 yards. Ty Simpson replaced Buchner in the second half and went 5-of-9 for 73 yards while taking five sacks.
The terrible quarterback play put Alabama in a dogfight with USF. They barely squeaked by with a 17-3 victory. They have Roydell Williams and the defense to thank for that.
The Tide may have gotten away with one but they'll be in deep trouble in the short and long term if they don't see major improvement at QB and up front.
Games Alabama will lose because of QB problem: No. 3 Ole Miss
Former Saban assistant Steve Sarkisian already got one over on his former boss earlier this season. Lane Kiffin will get his chance to do the same in Week 4. And at this point, who is betting against Kiffin?
Ole Miss doesn't have a great defense, but USF doesn't either. The Bulls gave up 41 points to Western Kentucky and 24 to FAMU. Alabama's inability to score points was about their own deficiencies at quarterback and on the offensive line.
So the Rebels can look forward to next week's matchup and know all they need to do is outpace the Tide on offense. Kiffin can do that, even against an Alabama defense that still looks plenty stout.
Jaxson Dart is an explosive playmaker with his arm and legs. Kiffin and Dart will put up points. If whichever Alabama QB is out there can't keep up with them, it's going to be a long day.
Games Alabama will lose because of QB problem: No. 2 Texas A&M
What's more scary than Ole Miss' offense? Having to go on the road to play a Texas A&M team that has a quarterback and a talent-laden defensive line.
The Aggies are overflowing with five-star talent up front. Shemar Turner, LT Overton, McKinnley Jackson, Walter Nolan and Shemar Stewart were all highly rated coming out of high school.
Texas A&M's defensive line isn't the finished article despite their talent. But they don't need to be when Alabama's offensive line is so vulnerable. The talent alone can win the battle.
Then you factor in Conner Weigman, who has proved he can absolutely sling it so far this season.
USF's Byrum Brown couldn't threaten the Tide with his arm. Weigman can. He's not Quinn Ewer but he's just as capable of finding the holes in a secondary.
Alabama's defense could hold the Bulls to just three points but they'll have a much harder time doing that to a Texas A&M offense that can actually move the ball.
Games Alabama will lose because of QB problem: No. 1 LSU
Alabama fans should get their prayer beads and candles ready because the quarterback is going to need all the intercessions he can get going against the LSU defensive line with the current iteration of the Crimson Tide offensive line in front of him.
The Tigers bested the Tide last year in overtime. That was with Bryce Young throwing for 328 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs carving out 99 on the ground.
Alabama doesn't have Bryce Young anymore. They don't have anyone close to his caliber. And the offensive line has only gotten worse.
LSU might have the best defensive line on the Crimson Tide schedule, especially if Alabama doesn't make it to the conference title game to face Georgia. And they certainly won't unless something changes up front and at QB.
The line that showed up against USF will get eaten alive by the Tigers. And it'll be open season on the quarterback behind that line, whether it's Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner or Ty Simpson.
To make matters worse, Jayden Daniels and the LSU offense can cook when they get going. They won't put up 41 on Bama like they did Mississippi State, but they'll do a whole lot more damage than USF.
