Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Alabama Dealt Bad News After Tennessee Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 6:40 AM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide are up to No. 4 in the rankings after a 37-20 win over then-No. 11 Tennessee on Week 8.

Alabama has six straight wins with the only loss this season coming in Week 1 to Florida State.

Kalen DeBoer's team has beaten four straight ranked opponents in a row with victories over Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee.

In Week 9, Alabama faces South Carolina before a Week 10 bye and games against LSU, Oklahoma, Eastern Illinois and Auburn to end the regular season.

While momentum is high for Alabama, the Crimson Time did get some unfortunate news on Monday on the recruiting front.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Class of 2027 commit Alex Ward announced his decommitment from the program, according to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals/On3.

"BREAKING: Four-Star ATH Alex Ward has Decommitted from Alabama, he tells me for @rivals. The 6’1 175 ATH from Marietta, GA had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since November 2024," Fawcett wrote.

BREAKING: Four-Star ATH Alex Ward has Decommitted from Alabama, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’1 175 ATH from Marietta, GA had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since November 2024

He’s ranked as a Top 10 ATH in the ‘27 Class (per Rivals Industry)https://t.co/388ETumIrJ pic.twitter.com/D7y2DvUbUz
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 20, 2025

Ward plays at IMG Academy in Florida and has been committed to DeBoer's program for almost a year.

Ward plays both wide receiver and defensive back, and he had a pair of touchdowns as a WR and two interceptions in 2024 at Marietta Walton in Georgia before going to IMG Academy.

As he hits the open market again on his recruitment, he has offers from programs, including Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn and he recently received offers from North Carolina and Colorado after taking a visit to Boulder in September.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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