Paul Finebaum declares Alabama dynasty 'in dire straits' entering SEC play

Alabama is at a point it hasn’t been in recent memory under head coach Nick Saban, and ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum isn’t sugarcoating how he feels about the Crimson Tide heading into this weekend’s game versus Ole Miss.

Finebaum was on Get Up on Wednesday morning, explaining why Alabama is in such a precarious situation and how its playoff hopes could be done before the end of September.

“Alabama is in dire straits right now,” Finebaum said. “They really have very little going for it. Saban brought in Tommy Rees from Notre Dame and in three games, the offensive coordinator has screwed up a quarterback situation about as badly as, well, maybe the Jets. It’s just impossible to talk about how poor things are right now. The offensive line has been a complete and total disaster. He’s starting Jalen Milroe against Ole Miss. He started Milroe then he put in Buchner then he put in Ty Simpson, now he’s back to Milroe. It makes very little sense. I think Nick Saban, his career is teetering right now in the sense of where is it going to go. If Lane Kiffin walks in there Saturday and beats him, the playoff hopes are over and people are really going to start doubting Saban’s future.”

The Crimson Tide have not played well in back-to-back weeks following its loss at home at Texas and then its narrow victory in Tampa to USF.

As Finebaum mentioned, the Alabama quarterback situation has been drawing many headlines — and much debate and scrutiny — in recent weeks. Jalen Milroe started the season as the starting quarterback but was benched against the Bulls for Tyler Buchner. After Buchner’s struggles in the game, the Crimson Tide turned to Ty Simpson to close out the contest.

The team has returned to Milroe for their SEC opener versus the Rebels, who enter with a 3-0 record and No. 15 ranking in the country.

Alabama has had Ole Miss’ number in recent years, especially in the Lane Kiffin era. The Crimson Tide are 3-0 versus the Rebels when Kiffin is the head coach.

Last year’s game in Oxford, Miss., was tied heading into the fourth quarter before Alabama pulled away with two field goals. But Ole Miss did outgain the Crimson Tide by 86 yards.

Alabama has not lost two games prior to the start of October since the 2007 season, which was Saban’s first season as the head coach.