Feeling 'toll' of SEC schedule, Alabama football focused on getting healthy in idle week

A week off may be exactly what Alabama football needs.

"It's good for us to have a bye week," Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Alabama (6-2, 4-2 SEC) had survived Texas A&M in a 31-20 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Now, the Crimson Tide finally has an idle week after eight consecutive weekends of action.

Ordinarily, the focus is rest and recovery, but for Alabama, the free weekend offers an opportunity to confront the mistakes that have threatened to derail a once-promising season and what the Crimson Tide must do to reset before the four final games of the 2026 regular season.

The week off also gives Alabama the chance to get some bodies back that have been missing due to injury, which DeBoer is "optimistic" about.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Alabama vs Texas A&M football recap, highlights

The Crimson Tide entered Saturday's game having suffered consecutive regular-season losses for the first time since 2007.

A 20-17 defeat from Georgia on Oct. 10 was followed by a 26-10 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 17. Alabama was tied 17-17 at halftime against Texas A&M (4-4, 1-4). Even after two interceptions in the first half, it felt like Alabama was on the verge of a three-game skid.

Against the Aggies, the Crimson Tide saw two more players − offensive lineman William Sanders and defensive tackle London Simmons − go down. The pair will benefit from the rest that DeBoer wants the team to focus on. Offensive lineman Racin Delgatty will, too, as will running back Ezavier Crowell, defensive back Zabien Brown and wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, who have appeared on the availability report for Alabama's struggling stretch.

Alabama football looks to use idle week to get 'bodies back'

Even team captain and safety Bray Hubbard showed up to postgame press conferences in a boot on his right foot, although he quickly clarified he was "fine" and the boot was "precautionary."

Since transferring from Virginia Tech, linebacker Caleb Woodson hasn't missed a game. However, he is feeling the difference of his first SEC schedule. If a seasoned veteran is feeling the pain, it's difficult to imagine the Crimson Tide's 22 freshman − the better half taking meaningful snaps − aren't, too.

Woodson's personal focus going into the idle week, he said, is "first, getting my body back 100%."

"We all need a little break," Woodson said, adding that he wants to hone in on footwork and fundamentals.

Alabama has played every weekend, from Sept. 05 to Oct. 24. It's not unique for SEC teams, as five others face the same non-stop gauntlet before an idle week in 2026.

When asked if the scheduling had taken a toll, though, Woodson was candid.

"Definitely a toll on our bodies. You know, every week, we're going at it, so this bye week's gonna be good for us to get our bodies back," Woodson continued.

When Alabama returns to the field, the Crimson Tide won't catch much of a break. A trip to Baton Rouge looms after No. 17 LSU upended Auburn, 38-17, in Week 8. The Crimson Tide will face LSU on Nov. 7, which will also be taking the field fresh off of an idle week after eight straight weeks of action.

Beyond the Bayou Bengals, Alabama's schedule features a visit to Vanderbilt on Nov. 14, a home matchup against Chattanooga on Nov. 21 and a Bryant-Denny Iron Bowl against Auburn on Nov. 28.

Whatever the Crimson Tide's postseason outlook becomes hinges heavily on what it does with idle hands over the coming days.