:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BVM2RQOYPB4HQ5FESYA2OEIJJM.jpg "Alabama head coach Nick Saban takes to the field during warmups before last week's game against Texas in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.")
Alabama’s 10-point home loss to Texas does not bode well for USF’s chances of upsetting the No. 10 Crimson Tide. Nick Saban hasn’t lost back-to-back regular season games since 2007.
Here’s how Saban’s teams have responded in similar situations over the last decade:
2022: The Tide rebounded from a last-second loss to Alex Golesh and Tennessee by crushing Mississippi State 30-6. Saban followed up an overtime loss at LSU with a 30-24 win at No. 11 Mississippi.
2021: A week after Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher became the first Saban assistant to beat him at Alabama, the Tide crushed Mississippi State in a 49-9 road win.
2019: A rare home loss (by five to eventual national champion LSU) preceded another rout in Starkville (38-7).
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2SS4OW2BPFEKNH773EKHLYWQ74.jpg "FSU transfer Jake Coker took the starting job at Alabama for good in a bounce-back win over Louisiana Monroe.")
2015: Probably the most apt comparison; Alabama lost by six to Mississippi, then blew out Louisiana Monroe 34-0 after permanently switching to FSU transfer Jake Coker as starting quarterback.
2014: The closest game on the list. ‘Bama used a fourth-quarter touchdown to eke by Arkansas on the road 14-13 after a six-point loss at Mississippi the week before.
Alabama’s rare trip to Tampa
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/F7GQ7G7V7RBUJCUJ25JVZWEXRA.JPG "Alabama football coach Nick Saban lost at Raymond James Stadium in the January 2017 national title game.")
This is only the fourth time ‘Bama has played a true road game under Saban. The other three: a 62-13 thumping of Duke in 2010, a 27-11 triumph at Penn State the next year and last year’s 20-19 thriller at Texas. Saban has coached at Raymond James Stadium before, for the January 2017 College Football Playoff national championship. Saban lost to Clemson 35-31 when Deshaun Watson hit Hunter Renfrow for the game winner with 1 second left.
By the numbers: Week 3
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Z53PXTWLEZG5VOJPDLMZJFGFEI.JPG "ESPN's Lee Corso is set to make his 400th headgear selection this weekend.")
399 — Headgear selections on ESPN’s “College GameDay” for Lee Corso, who will hit a milestone at Colorado
3.19 — Plays per minute for Tennessee, which leads the country (per 247Sports)
3.03 — Plays per minute for USF, which makes the Bulls the second-fastest offense in the country
4-14 — Record against ranked opponents for Central Michigan’s Jim McElwain. The former Gators coach will go try to earn a fifth big win by upsetting No. 9 Notre Dame
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3KMXMNZYE5ATTCL2AYP224QPHU.png "Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene")
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your options11 — Consecutive wins for Fresno State and former Bucs assistant Jeff Tedford. It’s the program’s longest winning streak since 1986, with a chance to extend it at Arizona State
377 — Passing yards last week by Virginia’s Anthony Colandrea (Lakewood High). That’s the most ever by a Cavaliers freshman
2 — Consecutive games with a touchdown by Alabama’s Amari Niblack (Lakewood High)
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Twitter and Facebook.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/7cebc9de-b4ff-4812-8b4d-68882cb41e3e.png "Matt Baker - Colleges and Recruiting Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/hyGSbdycD1Ckb2R9yqiIegHUoN8=/1200x675/filters:focal(1265x765:1275x755)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5BVVDAA7WJGARDFWLONRAXU23A.jpg "College football Week 5 viewing guide: Florida Gators’ big test at UK")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/5iUM8_5peQjZ1-hvlu9VB3VyUp0=/1200x675/filters:focal(625x395:635x385)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QWUR7QPYUDPKEGQI5BQOZN4K4Q.jpg "Our AP Top 25 ballot: Kentucky and Texas up, Texas A&M in and LSU out")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/63QRULRH8bcptrUPaGhpU0r1_2I=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4C5RFX3D5ZBUJECNAAMVPJP3VQ.jpg "West Tampa cigar factory to become a hotel")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/I5JFVUDA3BGD7IHGFZB2VUVRIM.JPG "Fact-checking the Rays: The most unbelievable stats from 2023")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7DH4C7JLBVBPNECLEJL46D6ALE.JPG "Yandy Diaz wins Rays’ franchise-first American League batting title")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UWHZP3SSS5E3RA5TUP66NWLURE.jpg "In a twist, Rays will host Rangers in American League Wild Card Series")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TF7IQ2W5CVLPOW6FVTRKRSVMGI.jpg "Young receivers step up with Bucs touchdowns after Mike Evans’ injury")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y6HTOQMD2RBKTDPLJ4ZVJABPTY.jpg "Baker Mayfield narrowly avoids injury, uses legs to survive Saints")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DVSERV4D5D26OGB2A2MDKQQMSE.jpg "Live updates: Bucs beat Saints, take over first place in NFC South")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4BA2JDA5PBECFL4TK6LGDVANCM.jpg "Bucs stifle Saints to take control of the NFC South")