TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and the 17th-ranked Crimson Tide are feeling much more comfortable than they did a few weeks ago as they prepare to return to the road and kick off their Southeastern Conference schedule.
Lopsided wins against the University of Louisiana at Monroe (a Sun Belt Conference program) and Wisconsin (a Big Ten program that has now lost seven of its past nine games) followed by an open date to rest and reset will do that. A much bigger — and likely less relaxing — challenge comes with Saturday night’s visit to fifth-ranked Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC).
With conference and College Football Playoff implications on the line, the stakes are understood, but there’s another hurdle for second-year head coach and the Tide to clear: winning on the road.
Alabama’s only game away from Bryant-Denny Stadium so far this season ended with a 31-17 drubbing at Florida State, which was unranked at the time but is No. 8 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. The Tide (2-1) looked a little overmatched as double-digit favorites in the season opener against the Seminoles of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The focus since has been about channeling a negative road experience into a more positive outcome.