No. 15 Alabama hosts No. 21 Missouri in battle of fallen former Top 10 teams

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer pleads with side judge Ryan Flynn after a penalty was called during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Alabama has little to no margin for error left in its playoff hopes as the No. 15 Crimson Tide hosts No. 21 Missouri on Saturday.

Alabama enters the game having lost two of its last three games and barely beating South Carolina.

No. 21 Missouri is coming off a come-from-behind win over Auburn but lost 41-10 to Texas A&M in its only other matchup with a ranked team. Tigers QB Brady Cook led Missouri’s comeback after returning from a first-half injury.

Both teams opened the season in the Top 10 with Alabama spending a week at No. 1. Frustrations are running high in Tuscaloosa, where first-year coach Kalen DeBoer has gotten off to a rough start despite a huge win over No. 2 Georgia.

Alabama will enter November with multiple losses for the first time since 2007.

The key matchup is Alabama’s running game against Missouri’s defense. Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe attempted 45 passes against Tennessee and hasn’t gotten loose as a runner lately. Running backs Jamarion Miller and Justice Haynes have been solid but not the kind of dominating backs that Alabama had produced over the years.

Players to watch for Alabama are wide receivers not named Ryan Williams. There’s no doubt Williams is the biggest playmaker quarterback Jalen Milroe has, but the freshman was targeted a whopping 18 times against Tennessee. Germie Bernard has been a reliable target but others need to step up, from Kendrick Law to Cole Adams and the tight ends.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama has won the last five meetings. Missouri took the first two, in 1968 and ’75. … This is the Tide’s lowest ranking since falling to No. 15 with a regular-season ending loss to Auburn in 2010. … The Tigers are trying to produce consecutive 7-1 starts for just the third time (1968-69, 2006-07). … Missouri’s string of 20 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 would be in jeopardy with a loss. … Alabama is seeking its 21st consecutive homecoming win. The last loss was a 35-21 defeat to LSU on Nov. 3, 2001. … Missouri’s defense ranks ninth in the nation in both total defense (273.0 ypg) and passing defense (157.6).

Kickoff for No. 21 Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 2-2) is Saturday at 2:30PM CDT on ABC 32.

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