The Alabama Crimson Tide delivered another dominant offensive performance, jumping out to a 35-3 lead and closing the game 49-18 over South Carolina to move to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC play.
Quarterback Keelon Russell threw four touchdown passes in the first half, and the Week 4 grading roundup is available via CBS Sports, which pairs grades with FanDuel Sportsbook title odds.
Key Takeaways
- The Crimson Tide have scored between 45 and 50 points in each of their four games this season.
- Keelon Russell threw four touchdown passes in the first half against South Carolina, setting the tone for the rout.
- Alabama has now gone two games without committing a turnover while continuing to generate takeaways.
- The Week 4 grading roundup included FanDuel Sportsbook title odds to frame Week 4 performances.
Alabama Crimson Tide offense in Week 4
Alabama’s offense once again produced explosive results, scoring quickly and often during the first half to build a 35-3 advantage.
Keelon Russell’s four first-half touchdown throws highlighted a growing connection with his receiving corps, and the Tide have now consistently reached the mid-to-high 40s in scoring through four games.
The passing attack has masked run-game inconsistencies, but the ceiling remains high when Russell and his targets are operating with space and tempo.
Alabama Crimson Tide defense and turnover control
The defense showed cracks in spots over the last two weeks, including some struggles against the run and situational vulnerabilities that opponents have exposed on film.
Still, Alabama’s ability to force turnovers while avoiding giveaways of its own in consecutive games has been a stabilizing factor for the unit.
Comparatively, other contenders graded that week showed a mix of stout defenses and glaring failures, and Bama’s defensive performance sits somewhere between those extremes.
Where Alabama ranks among Week 4 national contenders
The Week 4 grading set positions Alabama with an A- after the South Carolina win, placing the Tide among the upper tier of teams evaluated that day.
Notre Dame, LSU and Florida earned A-range marks for dominant showings, while programs such as USC and Ole Miss received D grades after defensive breakdowns in their losses.
Those contrasts matter because the national title picture is being redrawn week by week based on both résumé-building blowouts and concerning defensive lapses.
Week 4 grades and game facts comparison
| Team | Grade | Result | Notable fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | A- | 49-18 win vs. South Carolina | Keelon Russell threw four first-half TDs; Bama scored 45-50 points in each game this season. |
| Notre Dame | A | 49-10 win at Purdue | Defense produced nine tackles for loss and six sacks in a dominant effort. |
| LSU | A | 35-6 win vs. Texas A&M | Balanced victory with a strong passing performance despite limited mobility from the quarterback. |
| USC | D | 41-27 loss vs. Oregon | Allowed 504 yards in a defensive meltdown that cost the Trojans the game. |
| Ole Miss | D | 52-28 loss at Florida | Defense struggled against the run, surrendering multiple big rushing performances. |
Alabama Crimson Tide SEC and CFP implications
At 4-0 and 2-0 in conference play, Alabama has reinforced its status as an SEC contender while continuing to build the type of résumé the College Football Playoff committee values.
The high-scoring outputs help the Tide maintain upward mobility in odds and perception, but defensive inconsistency remains the primary barrier to cracking the very top echelon of national title favorites.
Recruiting and roster construction will need to prioritize better run blocking and rotational defensive depth if Alabama hopes to convert regular-season dominance into a clean playoff path.
