:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56824671/usa_today_10299657.0.jpg)
No. 1 Alabama showed why they are the highest-ranked team in the country on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 59-0 in Vanderbilt Stadium, although it looked and felt like a home game for the Tide.
Alabama’s defense held Kyle Shurmur and company to 78 yards of total offense and zero points. The closest Vandy ever got to scoring was on their first drive, when they made it to their own 46-yard line. That drive ended with an interception.
Alabama running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough joined forces for 230 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Call them a 1-2 punch. Call them the best backs in the SEC. Call them whatever you want, but they are hard to stop. Once the Tide were up 38-0, Jalen Hurts was relieved of his duties by freshman (phenom!?) Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa completed eight of his 10 passes for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The entire game felt like Alabama couldn’t seem to do anything wrong, while Vanderbilt couldn’t seem to do anything right. (There’s a life lesson in there somewhere.)
Vanderbilt travels to Florida next week, while Alabama returns home to host Ole Miss. Both teams will need to shake this one off as they move forward in SEC play.