"14:40."
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the game.
Alabama's Crimson Tide, playing at home, once again demolished Texas A&M with an overwhelming performance, extending their undefeated streak to eight games this season.
Fans, who had come with high hopes, left disappointed. Despite Texas A&M being known as a defensive powerhouse, they couldn't apply enough pressure on Alabama's offense. While they showed glimpses of their traditional defensive strength during first and second downs, they crumbled on third downs.
The reasons were twofold:
First, Myles Garrett, still recovering from an ankle injury, was hesitant to give his all, limiting the pressure he could apply on third downs.
Second, Alabama's ground game was relentless. Lance once again displayed his elite skills, repeatedly breaking through tough situations and disrupting Texas A&M's defense.
Third, Texas A&M's defense failed to provide enough support for Garrett, leaving him isolated. Football is, after all, a team sport.
Because of these factors, Alabama's offense continued to thrive.
Despite being hampered by injury, Garrett still delivered a respectable performance, recording seven tackles, three hits, and one sack. However, his absence in key moments, something not reflected in the stats, left Texas A&M vulnerable, making it hard to grasp how they lost so badly without watching the game.
As for Lance?
He rushed for 160 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Consistently reliable and dominant, Lance's performance was like clockwork. What the stats didn't show was Lance's 100% success rate on third-down conversions.
In this game, Alabama faced 13 third-down situations. On six of those occasions, Saban entrusted the ball to Lance, and in one additional instance, Jalen Hurts made a last-minute handoff to Lance. Lance successfully converted all of them, securing first downs each time. His clutch performances in critical moments turned into nightmares for Texas A&M's defense and laid the foundation for Alabama's victory.
As Brand looked over these stats, he knew that there was more to Lance's game than just rushing yards and touchdowns. These stats spoke volumes about Lance's talent, the trust he had earned from his coaches, and his ability to change the course of a game.
Surprisingly, Lance wasn't just filling Derrick Henry's shoes—he was doing things even Henry hadn't done. His success was boosting the confidence and performance of his teammates, as seen in the strong outings from Hurts and Jacobs.
Moreover, Saban's trust in Lance was growing.
Brand knew that this was far more important than the outcome of the game or the numbers on the scoreboard.
Perhaps this one game wouldn't drastically affect Garrett's draft stock. After all, scouts had to consider his injury. Judging by his physical abilities, individual skills, performance, and mental strength, Garrett was still undoubtedly a first-round pick.
But with Garrett as a stepping stone, Lance's stock continued to soar. This dark horse, who had seemingly emerged out of nowhere, was still going strong.
How Jackson and Watson were feeling after these developments was anyone's guess, but Brand knew that things were getting more and more interesting.
Those waiting for Alabama to stumble or for Lance to hit a wall were left speechless. One by one, the doubters quietly closed their mouths.
Seventh-ranked Tennessee? Crushed.
Sixth-ranked Texas A&M? Defeated with ease.
Facing a series of tough opponents in quick succession, Alabama displayed their top form, showcasing their relentless, unyielding spirit. Not only did they win, but they dominated, delivering one blowout after another.
The defending champions were out for blood.
Now, any team hoping to challenge Alabama had to seriously evaluate their own strength, or risk a bloody outcome.
In an instant, the chatter died down. The crowd of spectators fell silent, enveloped in a tense atmosphere.
However, in Brand's view, Alabama's challenges weren't over yet. He wasn't in a rush to pass judgment on Lance or draw any conclusions. He was content to let things play out a bit longer. After all, he had been following the Crimson Tide for a month and a half—what was a little more time? He would patiently continue his observations.
Up next was a true test, and often the most dangerous one.
LSU, currently ranked 13th in the NCAA, officially known as the Louisiana State University Tigers.
Yes, another team called the Tigers, but unlike Clemson, this was a different kind of tiger—a team that could be Alabama's most dangerous opponent.
First, this was the final hurdle in Alabama's brutal three-week stretch of facing top-tier opponents. After steamrolling both Tennessee and Texas A&M, the end was in sight, and there was always the risk of becoming complacent.
Second, LSU was also known as a defensive powerhouse, similar to Alabama. In a way, they were a mirror image of the Crimson Tide.
In simple terms, LSU combined individual talent with team cohesion.
Unlike Clemson, which relied entirely on team coordination, LSU boasted numerous standout individual players. At the same time, unlike Texas A&M, which relied solely on Garrett, LSU's defense operated as a well-oiled unit.
With a combination of personal skill and teamwork, LSU was capable of producing results greater than the sum of its parts.
Like Alabama, this was a terrifying defensive team.
But why was a team this strong only ranked 13th? It didn't make sense.
The answer lay in their offense.
At the start of the season, LSU was ranked as the No. 5 seed and was considered a strong contender for the championship. However, they struggled, even in their victories, as their offense was disorganized and chaotic.
In Week 4, LSU lost to their arch-rival Auburn, a defeat that triggered massive changes. Their longtime head coach Les Miles, who had led the team for 12 seasons, and their offensive coordinator were both fired. Defensive coordinator Ed Orgeron stepped up as interim head coach.
Orgeron, who had a background in coaching defensive lines, had been working at the college level for years. He had joined LSU only last season and had never been a head coach before. But when the opportunity presented itself, Orgeron seized it, proving his ability as LSU quickly turned around.
Orgeron's expertise in defense became his starting point, and within just three weeks, he had unlocked LSU's defensive potential. The team not only secured three consecutive wins but also looked completely revitalized.
In those three games, LSU's defense allowed an average of just 13 points per game. While still short of Alabama's elite standards, for a midseason turnaround, Orgeron's work was impressive and established his credibility.
At the same time, Orgeron showed boldness on offense, partnering with his newly appointed offensive coordinator, Steve Ensminger, to unlock LSU's potential. In those three games, LSU's scoring output skyrocketed to an average of 41.67 points per game, more than doubling their previous output under Miles.
By using defense to fuel offense, and offense to drive defense, Orgeron had quickly put LSU back on the path to success.
Although LSU was currently ranked only 13th, Brand believed that this made them an even more dangerous opponent. With everything coming together at the right time, LSU was a formidable challenge, and Alabama would need to be extra cautious to avoid any upsets.
And, as it turned out, Brand's instincts were right.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates