On Nightcap, hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson with special guest Johnny Manziel, the discussion centered on a question college football fans are now asking out loud: Has the Alabama standard changed?
Indiana delivered a loud answer on the field. With a stunning 38–3 victory in the Rose Bowl, the Hoosiers advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals for the first time since 1991 and will face Oregon next. The final score was eye-opening, but the way the game unfolded told an even deeper story.
Sharpe noted that Alabama looked slow from the opening kick, describing the Crimson Tide as if they were “running in mud.” Indiana, meanwhile, played fast, confident, and physical, attacking Alabama’s defense and winning at every level.
Manziel added that the Rose Bowl performance was not an isolated moment. He pointed to Alabama’s season-opening loss to Florida State as evidence that these issues have been present all year. The lack of speed, toughness, and consistency showed up again in Pasadena, reinforcing concerns about the program’s trajectory.
Ochocinco focused on the line of scrimmage, where Indiana clearly controlled the game. He questioned whether the Hoosiers were simply that dominant or if Alabama was just that slow on both sides of the ball. Ocho also pointed out the absence of impact from Alabama’s skill players and raised a difficult question: Did Alabama truly deserve to be in the College Football Playoff? While acknowledging Indiana’s undefeated season, he suggested Alabama may not have taken its opponent seriously.
Sharpe, who has followed Alabama football since the Bear Bryant era, was especially blunt. He said he had never seen an Alabama team look so unprepared and lacking urgency. Past Tide teams were loaded with first-round offensive linemen, elite wide receivers, lockdown defensive backs, and dominant linebackers. This roster, he said, does not compare.
Sharpe then asked a simple but telling question: Who on this Alabama team stands out as special? After a pause, his answer was clear to nobody.
Ochocinco added that before the NIL, Alabama was widely viewed as “Wide Receiver U.” Now, with NIL spreading elite talent across the country, those star players are no longer concentrated in Tuscaloosa. Manziel echoed that NIL has leveled the playing field, allowing more programs to compete.
Alabama’s quarterback Ty Simpson played well, but not at a Heisman or franchise-altering level. In today’s college football, that difference matters. The Rose Bowl was more than a loss, it was a sign that Alabama’s once-unquestioned standard is slipping.
Sharpe also reflected on the absence of impact players that once defined Alabama’s dominance. He named stars like Quenton Williams, D’Ryone Payne, Jonathan Allen, Patrick Surtain, Devonta Smith, Julio Jones, and Jaylen Waddle. These were players who made Alabama special and feared nationwide. He lamented that none of that star power is visible on this current roster. Ochocinco added that the last truly outstanding running back they had was Jaylen Waddle’s predecessor, Jaymer Gibbs, underscoring the talent drought on offense.
As the Crimson Tide face an uncertain future, the question remains: Is Kalen DeBoer’s job on the line because the Alabama standard is slipping, or can he rebuild a new team that honors the legacy and reignites the fire of the Crimson Tide?
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