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The Alabama Crimson Tide is down bad.
At least, relatively speaking, according to reports.
Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have been nothing short of a juggernaut.
Saban took over in Tuscaloosa in 2007 after a brutal stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. He plodded to a 7-6 record in year one. But it didn’t take long for Bama to hit its stride.
The 2008 season saw the Tide rise all the way to No. 1 in the AP Poll before finishing the year with a 12-2 record and the No. 6 rankings.
One year later, he won his first national championship with Alabama. It’s safe to say he hasn’t looked back.
Saban and the Crimson Tide have won six national championships since he came aboard and they’ve played in three other national title games.
At first, their dynasty was built on the back of absolutely terrifying defenses. Lately, however, it’s been all about the offense as Saban and company have churned out star quarterback after star quarterback.
AJ McCarron may have started the trend. But big names such as Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and newly minted No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft Bryce Young have only served to keep the train rolling.
There’s just one problem.
It doesn’t appear the Tide have an answer at quarterback in 2023.
Former star recruit Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson were expected to battle for the spot. But neither impressed in spring practice.
So Saban looked outside the house, bringing in Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.
Now On3 Sports’ JD PicKell reports that Bama is hoping Buchner can be their version of former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett. Bennett led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
“What I was told about this [quarterback] situation as a whole with bringing in Tyler Buchner was that Alabama — and this is how it was described to me — is looking for their Stetson Bennett,” PicKell said. “Alabama Crimson Tide fans, you probably just grimaced by hearing his name. That’s fine.
“But the sentiment is that you want bring in a guy that is going to play mistake-free football and keep this car on the road. … Whoever plays quarterback at Alabama, you’re driving a nice car and we’re asking you not to crash it. That’s your responsibility.”
There’s just one small problem.
Bennett threw for 6,990 yards, 56 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in those two seasons. Buchner threw for just 651 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions in 2022.
Those numbers aren’t exactly close to one another.
Good luck, Crimson Tide.