It started after the back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013 of Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel making the previously invulnerable Alabama defense look not just mortal, but totally lost. Then Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight eviscerated them at the end of 2013 and the entire defense took a pretty big step back in 2014— including another rough outing against an Ole Miss team that was embracing Hugh Freeze’s fast-paced spread option offense... And then lost to him again at the start of 2015.
Every sports blogger worth their salt was talking about the “cracks in the dynasty,” and how Nick Saban had to change his defensive strategy to keep up with modern football.