When one of the top programs in college football trounces an outmanned FCS opponent, as Alabama did with a 52-7 dispatching of Mercer Saturday, there's as much drama in the coin toss as there is in the game.
At its core, it's not unlike a top-shelf high school program holding a live scrimmage between its varsity and junior varsity, although Mercer's players won't have to pass Alabama 's in the hallway Monday morning. Almost all of the highlights can be attributed to the cavernous gap in level of competition.
There are exceptions, however.
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Alabama freshman linebacker Qua Russaw delivered one such exception in the first half, contorting his body on a third-and-7 pass by Mercer quarterback Whitt Newbauer to make a one-handed interception. Because the pass had been deflected by fellow LB Deontae Lawson , Russaw had to stop his momentum, reach back as he was falling to the ground and secure the interception from his back. It was a marvelous show of athleticism, and an individual effort like that is as marvelous against a Mercer as it would be against a Georgia or a Tennessee .
It also served as a stark reminder of the very thing that might carry Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) to the College Football Playoff: Its defense is forcing turnovers at a dizzying pace.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's unit chalked up three more of them Saturday. Freshman cornerback Zabien Brown returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown, and Domani Jackson forced another fumble recovered by Damon Payne Jr. to go with Russaw's one-handed pick.
It's been quite the streak.
Over the last five games (vs. South Carolina , Tennessee, Missouri , LSU and Mercer), the Alabama defense has amassed 16 takeaways (seven fumble recoveries, nine interceptions), an average of more than three per contest. That's a clip that would make any team dangerous in December when the CFP's 12-team party gets underway — if UA can finish the job of earning a berth.
The Crimson Tide entered play ranked tied for fifth in the nation, and first in the SEC, in takeaways with 21. Saturday's performance ballooned that total to 24, and at its pace of late, the Alabama defense could easily be college football's premier turnover machine by the end of the regular season, if not sooner.
Meanwhile, ball security by the Alabama offense has been strong enough that UA also ranks first in the SEC and fifth in the nation in turnover margin. Although Crimson Tide QB Jalen Milroe was fortunate that a lost fumble was reversed by video review against Mercer, Alabama has now played turnover-free offense for three consecutive games. There isn't a bigger determining factor in the sport than turnover margin, and coach Kalen DeBoer's team has dialed in a winning formula in that regard ever since an October lesson learned at Tennessee.
And there isn't a more important trend his team has to maintain in remaining SEC games against Oklahoma and Auburn than that one.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football maintains trend vs Mercer that's a must for CFP berth
