On a day full of upsets that will lead to a shuffling in the rankings on Sunday, Alabama once again stood high and mighty. Alabama dominated Arkansas in a 52-0 victory, their second straight shutout win against the Razorbacks in as many years. Alabama has outscored Arkansas in the past two games by a combined score of 104-0.
AJ McCarron had three touchdown passes before getting an early rest and the Crimson Tide rushed for 352 yards against an arkansas defense that is clearly a long way from being able to compete at this physical level. Kenyan Drake rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns and TJ Yeldon added 88 yards and a touchdown. Alabama’s defense
The win was not without a cost for Alabama though. Safety Vinnie Sunseri was taken out of the game with an apparent leg injury. Players were seen consoling Sunseri on the sidelines after he returned without pads on, an ominous image for sure with regard to Sunseri’s status moving forward. The injury occurred in the same game Ha Ha Clinton-Dix returned from a brief suspension (two games).
Alabama is now 7-0 overall, with five games sitting between the two-time defending BCS champs and a perfect regular season. The biggest challenges left appear to be LSU (November 9) and the road game at Auburn on November 30. The Auburn game continues to become more of a threat for Alabama because the Tigers are hitting a stride right now. Auburn topped Texas A&M on Saturday to move to 6-1 overall.
Early in the year there was a concern about Alabama’s defense, but since the Texas A&M game the Crimson Tide has allowed just 16 points to five different opponents. Somehow Georgia State managed to score three points, a feat unable to be matched by two of Alabama’s SEC West rivals (Ole Miss and Arkansas). Have those defensive concerns been silenced? Probably. Next week Alabama hosts Tennessee, who upset South Carolina on Saturday.
Arkansas has now lost five straight games after a 3-0 start to the season. Next for the Razorbacks will be a home game against Auburn after a bye week next week.