Alabama and Ole Miss share a common goal this week despite playing one another. Each hopes to show its defense has come a long way since the offensive extravaganza that occurred when they met last season.
These two Southeastern Conference programs combined for 111 points, 1,370 yards and 68 first downs when they faced off on Oct. 10, 2020, in Oxford, Mississippi. The 63-48 win for Alabama that night was fun for the offenses, but a bitter memory for those on the other side of the ball.
It left both defenses eager to show they're improved heading into Saturday's rematch between top-ranked Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) and the No. 11 Rebels (3-0, 0-0) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The 3:30 p.m. Eastern game will be televised by CBS.
"I know that we could have won the game if the defense got a couple of stops," Ole Miss linebacker Lakia Henry said. "It was a defensive loss, that's how I look at it. We have to get stops."
At least one of the defenses needs to do that in a matchup of SEC West Division teams that will feature Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback - Matt Corral for the Rebels and Bryce Young for the Crimson Tide
Both teams have shored up their defenses with players who started their collegiate careers elsewhere. Maryland graduate transfer linebacker Chance Campbell is leading the Rebels in tackles, while safety Otis Reese - who was declared eligible late last season with the Rebels after appearing in 25 games in two years at Georgia - and junior college defensive tackle Isaiah Iton are also starting.
Ole Miss defensive end Sam Williams, an Alabama native who took advantage of the extra year of eligibility from the pandemic to return, leads the SEC and ranks seventh nationally in sacks per game with four in three outings and has a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Alabama, which ranks 18th nationally in yards allowed, didn't need as much immediate help but added Tennessee transfer Henry To'oTo'o at middle linebacker, and he's leading the team in tackles. Outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who started for the Tide as a freshman in 2020, has 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this year.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said Anderson resembles the late Derrick Thomas, the former Alabama and NFL star, and that the sophomore stands out even on a defense loaded with players who were top-rated recruits.
"They've got great players all over, but he's the best of all of them," Kiffin said.
Statistically, the Rebels have certainly improved after ranking 126th nationally in total defense last season. Now they're a more respectable 59th, allowing one fewer point in the first three games than they surrendered to the Tide a year ago. But the Rebels haven't proved their progress against a team like Alabama, which also hasn't faced such a prolific offense.
The Tide's biggest test so far came in a 31-29 win at Florida to open SEC play two weeks ago, and the defense looked more vulnerable in the second half. Still, it was nothing like that 2020 shootout with Ole Miss.
In addition to the new players, Alabama coach Nick Saban sees the Rebels playing with a "totally different" approach on that side of the ball.
"It's really Iowa State's defensive scheme, where it's a 3-4 scheme but they're dropping eight guys (into coverage) a lot," said Saban, who also noted that Ole Miss had a new coaching staff last year that - because of the coronavirus pandemic - didn't have the benefit of spring practice to get the defenders acclimated.
Whatever the factors, both defenses want to avoid a repeat of last year's high-scoring game. The offensive players wouldn't mind it as much.
"It was crazy, man," Alabama left tackle Evan Neal said. "There's nothing like a shootout. But as an offensive player, those are the really fun games.
"They're a great team, their defense has really improved from last year and they have a really high-powered offense. So I'm just excited to compete on Saturday."