ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy did not like what he saw from one of the nation's top teams in Week 7.
McElroy's alma mater, Alabama, went to the wire against unranked South Carolina in Tuscaloosa. Despite a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, Kalen DeBoer's No. 7 ranked Crimson Tide did not look improved following a historic upset loss to Vanderbilt in Week 6.
After jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, a string of Alabama mistakes allowed the Gamecocks, led by head coach Shane Beamer, back into the game in surprising fashion.
South Carolina faced a 4th-and-9 situation from the Tide's 36-yard line when a busted coverage by Alabama gave up a touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Mazeo Bennett Jr. Crimson Tide receiver Caleb Odom was penalized for a personal foul on the ensuing kickoff, backing up Alabama to its own goal line. Then a critical mistake by star quarterback Jalen Milroe led to a safety.
Additionally, Milroe was picked off on the very next Tide possession, making way for a South Carolina field goal to make it 14-12 at the break. All of the Gamecocks' first-half points came within the final two minutes of the second quarter.
The second half was a similar story. After South Carolina scored a touchdown on its opening possession to make it 19-14, Alabama was forced to punt and Milroe threw his second interception on the next possession.
Holding a five-point lead, the Gamecocks faltered late in the fourth quarter with a fumble and a missed field goal that opened the door for the Alabama comeback. Milroe ran for a score and threw for his third total touchdown, ultimately the game-winner. A South Carolina interception ended the game in the Tide's favor, 27-25.
"Just an inexcusably bad, bad and dumb, game that was played by the Crimson Tide," McElory said on "Always College Football." "Just dumb, flat out dumb, and it needs to get addressed really quickly because that almost cost them, and it shouldn't have. They were the better team yesterday. They were outplayed."
Alabama entered the game as massive 19.5-point favorites over the Gamecocks, who were coming off a 27-3 loss to No. 18 Ole Miss in Week 6. South Carolina out-gained the Tide 374 to 313 on the day and forced two interceptions on Milroe, a Heisman Trophy contender.
"This team right now is lacking situational awareness which is really a problem," McElroy said. "And it needs to get addressed and get addressed rather quickly."
Alabama (5-1) has three SEC ranked teams left on the slate, including a major matchup next week at No. 11 Tennessee (5-1). The Tide will also face No. 19 Missouri (5-1) and No. 8 LSU (5-1). It's hard to see the Tide escaping the remaining schedule unscathed if things aren't tightened up sooner rather than later.
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