Alabama football had plenty of problems against Tennessee, but Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer knew in his mind what wasn’t an issue.

“I don’t question the fight,” DeBoer said. “I mean, I don’t question the prep. I don’t question the work that was put in. These guys came ready.”

But the final result didn‘t fall in the Crimson Tide’s favor. No. 7 Alabama fell to No. 11 Tennessee 24-17 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

DeBoer said he felt like Alabama was on track “each and every day” during practice heading into the game against the Vols. But it didn’t translate Saturday.

“We just can‘t mesh right now the offense and defense together and play great team football,” DeBoer said. “There’s times when we’ve got to be able to separate ourselves and have that killer instinct. And right now we don’t do that.”

Alabama has now lost two games before November for the first time since 2007, Nick Saban’s first year as Crimson Tide coach. The College Football Playoff remains a possibility, but Alabama has to figure some things out fast after the recent post-Georgia slide.

“I told them they‘re there,” DeBoer said. “These are the speeches I’m not good at, you know? You’ve got to look inward first and make sure that everything you’re doing is right. And then anyone that you sense that has any type of questioning, you got to make sure you bring them with.

“The thing I know that with our guys, there’s enough (experienced players) that know exactly what you’re talking about to where it eats at them and we got to continue to mesh the vets with the new guys, the ones that need to continue to understand what this program stands for and what it’s all about.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.