Alabama Beats Mississippi State 56-23 to Set Up Georgia Showdown

Keelon Russell and a wave of freshmen powered Alabama's 56-23 road win over Mississippi State, with a pivotal SEC game against Georgia up next on Saturday.

Alabama defeated Mississippi State 56-23 on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Oddsmakers had made the Crimson Tide no more than a field-goal favorite, but the visitors controlled the SEC matchup throughout, with running back Trae'shawn Brown among those reaching the end zone.

Quarterback Keelon Russell, a first-year starter, has climbed to the top of FanDuel's Heisman Trophy odds. He connected with Rico Scott on a touchdown pass and has generated plays from the pocket, while on the move and as a runner, leaving Alabama's first five opponents without an answer. Georgia's defense, next on the schedule, will present a stiffer test.

In the backfield, EJ Crowell supplied the game's most notable run, but Brown handled the bulk of the work. Brown, recruited as a three-star prospect, took over the lead role after Daniel Hill put the ball on the ground for a second time during the game. The blocking in front of him has opened consistent running lanes.

Up front, offseason coaching addition Adrian Klemm has overseen a clear turnaround. Communication along the offensive line is markedly better than a year ago, and Tyrell Miller, filling in for Jayvin James, was beaten badly on only one snap. A pin-and-pull run concept has become a fixture of the offense and has produced multiple explosive gains in every game, while the reworked pass protection has benefited from the ground game and Russell's ability to escape pressure.

On defense, five-star freshman linebacker Xavier Griffin may have had his breakout performance. He led Alabama with nine tackles and recorded the first sack of his career while working in a rotation with Luke Metz and Caleb Woodson.

Cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. experienced the full range of outcomes in a single afternoon. He returned an interception for a touchdown early in the game, later muffed a punt and also broke off a couple of explosive returns. He was beaten on a touchdown pass on a snap in which he was watching the sideline until the ball was snapped. After the muff, Zabien Brown forced and recovered a fumble, and teammates gathered around Lee on the sideline in a show of support.

Questions remain about Lee's long-term fit, with some viewing him as better suited to box safety. Cornerback depth is a factor, as Carmelo O'Neal has had difficult moments in his appearances and Jorden Edmonds is working back from injury, which could open the door to experimentation.

Coach Kalen DeBoer lamented his team's ten penalties afterward, singling out procedural fouls before the snap. Coverage breakdowns appeared again, and Kamario Taylor missed several open receivers, with a foot issue he has been dealing with possibly contributing. Alabama has yet to play a complete game this season, though this team is making fewer costly errors than DeBoer's first two squads, which repeatedly undermined themselves despite similar talent.

Attention now shifts to Saturday's meeting with Georgia. The Bulldogs entered the season with the most returning starts in the SEC, making them a seasoned challenge. A win would put Alabama in strong position for a trip to Atlanta for the SEC championship game, while a loss would leave the Crimson Tide with little margin for error the rest of the way.