Low Tide: Is it time to put a fork in Alabama?

"Halloween" might not be the only franchise coming to an end in October. After Alabama's 52-49 loss at Tennessee on Saturday, the Crimson Tide team may have received a fatal blow to their season.

If it feels like we've been here before, we have. In 2011, Alabama lost to SEC division rival LSU in the regular season, missed out on the SEC Championship Game, and was still placed in the BCS title game over one-loss Big 12 champion Oklahoma State. 

During the 2014-15 seasons, Alabama lost regular-season games to Ole Miss but reached the College Football Playoff both seasons. The Tide lost to Ohio State in the semifinals in 2014 and claimed the national championship after the 2015 season.

In 2017, Alabama lost to Auburn, 26-14. Despite failing to qualify for the SEC Championship Game, Alabama was given one of four spots in the CFP and won the national title. And just last year, Alabama's 41-38 loss to Texas A&M wasn't enough to derail the Crimson Tide. Alabama rallied and finished the regular season 11-1, won the SEC championship, and advanced to the national title game, where it lost to Georgia.

After the loss to Tennessee, though, things feel different for Alabama. The team has already escaped near-losses at Texas and at home against Texas A&M. Alabama didn't look like a well-oiled machine in either game. 

The Crimson Tide are among the most penalized teams over the past few years, but they've taken things to another level in 2022. The team is averaging 9.4 penalties per game, and their 66 total penalties are the most in college football. For context, the team averaged 7.1 penalties and 107 total over 15 games in 2021. 

There's enough evidence over the past few seasons to show that a team with a great offense will have no problem moving the ball against the Crimson Tide. Their biggest threat in the SEC West, No. 7 Ole Miss, certainly qualifies as a great offense. The teams will meet Nov. 12 at Mississippi.

This season, the Rebels are averaging 502.9 yards a game, including 271.4 rushing yards -- third best in the country. Only two triple-option offenses (Air Force, Army) are averaging more rushing yards this season. 

Alabama's rush defense is one of 16 units in college football to allow fewer than 100 yards per game, but Ole Miss has a dual-threat quarterback in Jaxson Dart, who can give Alabama fits.

What's a relief to many college football fanbases is the biggest fear for Crimson Tide supporters.

Alabama finally looks human.