re: How did Bama lose to UT, LSU, and almost Texas ...

The NIL and transfer portal has effected Bama arguably more than any other school in the nation.. Alabama in the Saban era had a crazy amount of depth at each position and not having that depth has shown.. Top recruits used to come to ALabama and a lot of them would play special teams and learn the system for a year or 2 and then came in playing fast and confident. Top recruits are now going to Bama if they don't get their way right away and play they are gone.. No more depth equals forcing Saban to play players who aren't ready for his system and that has showed. Saban has to adapt to the new age of college football.. The new rules certainly even out the playing field which sucks as a Bama fan, but good for college football football.