Saturday is a huge matchup for Kalen DeBoer and the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide. There’s also revenge on the line, so this game between the Tide and the No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores has everything college football fans look for in an early October matchup.
Alabama is 3-1 and DeBoer has to feel like he shut up some of his critics by going to Athens last weekend and beating the then-No. 5-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, 24-21. In the past, a game against Vandy would be seen as a great respite and even a cakewalk, but Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is building a legitimate program that knows it can beat Alabama.
That’s quite the set up, but wait, there’s more. Legendary former Alabama head coach Nick Saban will be coming back to Tuscaloosa as a member of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and he wants Alabama fans to show up and show out for this game.
“It’s my experience, on game day, that it’s a great opportunity for each institution to show the spirit, the energy, and the enthusiasm for their program and the football team. This is a great opportunity because I always thought we (Alabama) had the best energy and enthusiasm and spirit of any place in the country in the years that I was the coach here,” Saban said in a video released to X (h/t On3). “This is a great opportunity for everyone to come out and show the world what a great spirit we have at the University of Alabama. So I’ll see you Saturday morning and Roll Tide.”