Teams don’t beat Alabama football by trying to be Alabama football. Arkansas under Bret Bielema and LSU under Les Miles and Ed Orgeron have learned that over the past six seasons. Power football failed Arkansas under Bielema and LSU has not beaten the Tide since the 2011 regular season.
At this point, only Georgia is trying to be the exception. Without Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, even Saban disciple Kirby Smart may adapt. It takes more than schemes to win college football championships. It takes ‘horses’ on both sides of the ball and enough of them to survive a grueling season.