TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Injured Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa watched from a cart as his teammates treated him to a dominant performance against a badly outclassed opponent.
Mac Jones passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns in little more than a half, and No. 5 Alabama began life without Tagovailoa with a 66-3 romp Saturday over Western Carolina of the Football Championship Subdivision.
With Tagovailoa watching much of the game from behind the bench, the Southeastern Conference’s Crimson Tide (10-1) put on a one-sided show against the Southern Conference’s Catamounts (3-9). The star quarterback, who had hip surgery on Monday, was cheered as he was driven toward the sideline before the game. He didn’t have to give much of a pep talk.
“Just his presence,” Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “Just knowing what he meant to the team. That was enough. He didn’t have to say much.”
Alabama is fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings and hoping to somehow make the field despite failing to win the SEC West – and losing its biggest star.