Nick Saban is no stranger to mind games. Known for his “rat poison” tactic, he often warns his players against outside praise that can weaken their focus. But this time, Saban’s reverse psychology seemed to backfire spectacularly. After calling out Vanderbilt as the only SEC team that’s “not tough to play,” the Crimson Tide faced a brutal reality when they lost 40-35 to the Commodores. It wasn’t just a shock—it was the kind of upset that leaves even the best scrambling for answers.

Instead of underestimating Vanderbilt, Saban’s team fell right into the trap he warned about. Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back, calling out the Alabama coach’s tactics and how they spectacularly failed.

Paul Finebaum goes in

But the real kicker? Nick Saban had recently made some controversial statements on the Pat McAfee Show about paying attention to the Vanderbilt home field. “The only place you play in the SEC that’s not hard to play is Vanderbilt,” he said, adding, “No disrespect, it’s the truth.”

Enter Paul Finebaum, the seasoned college football analyst! He just emptied a machine gun on Kalen. He was not so kind in his assessment of the situation. “There’s a lot of things about college football I don’t understand very well,” he started, “but there’s one thing I do know: the culture of Alabama football. This is a shock to Alabama’s manhood.” He noted that it is not just another whoops as far as Alabama football is concerned, but a bona fide crisis due to a loss to Vanderbilt. He focused on the shame that came with this defeat, to top it up after fans of Tide were very arrogant in the weeks that led up to this game.

Finebaum continued, “There is no way to ever excuse the number one Alabama-ranked team losing to Vanderbilt. That is the one thing in the closet you cannot ever do.” Ouch! Those words must have rung a bell or two especially once Saban’s own words proved to be in one’s throat. Finebaum then proceeded to diagram how this loss could extend far past the final (score) to impact a host of areas, including how Kalen DeBoer, will be regarded going forward. “He’s about to experience things that go beyond the football field,” Finebaum said, which is quite obvious because fans and critics will always come up with negative things to say.

Stats speak volumes

The numbers speak of brutality. Many expected Alabama to easily beat the Vanderbilts, as it was an overwhelming favorite at 30 points but was outplayed on the field. The playing offense of the Commodores gained 418 yards for a total which proclaimed how they also could penetrate a Tide defense that was proving unbeatable early in the season. On the other hand, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe threw as many as 310 passes but his team could not grab a victory. The Tide was just unable to match Vanderbilt’s surprising offensive production and people watching the game had to wonder why.

This season, like every other, Vanderbilt also came through moments of triumph and failure. But, oh boy, they hit the jackpot against Alabama. The victory took them to 3-2 and left many question marks following Alabama to 4-1. Even Paul Finebaum concluded, “This was shattering. It’s one thing to lose to Georgia or any other big-name team, but losing to Vanderbilt? That’s just embarrassing.”

Now, this kind of drama has made the rest of the season even more interesting to watch. Yes, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama, will have to change gears and remain humble, or this loss will plunge the Tide into free fall. One thing’s for sure: football at this college level is always unpredictable and such outcomes are always expected to occur in the games.