Alabama football has six games left in its 2023 regular season. All of the Crimson Tide’s preseason goals are still attainable, though the margin of error remains small.

After a 1-1 start and discouraging first half against South Florida in Week 3, Alabama has reasserted itself as a national title contender with an elite defense and big-play offense. Starting with Arkansas this weekend, No. 10 UA (5-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) can further establish its SEC West lead and cap off homecoming weekend in Tuscaloosa with a win.

But before that, let’s take a look at the key players, position groups and trends that have defined Alabama so far.

Biggest turning point: Final drive vs. South Florida

Up until the very end of the South Florida game, Alabama looked terrible. It was a rainy day in Tampa, and the Crimson Tide’s offense had looked like a washout, with the defense carrying the load.

The offensive line was especially struggling. But then, on the last drive of the game, Saban told the group to take the rest of the clock and get the game over.

UA drove all the way down the field, with quarterback Ty Simpson finishing off the drive on a QB sneak, sealing a 17-3 victory. Since then, the offensive line has looked a good bit better, and Alabama is undefeated.

Biggest disappointment: Offensive line

Alabama’s blockers were supposed to be among the biggest in the country, if not the conference. It was supposed to usher in a brutalizing ground game and keep whoever the quarterback was upright long enough to execute. Instead, Alabama is on pace to be one of the most-sacked teams in the country.

The left tackle situation remains in flux, penalties have cropped up in loud environments and the running game is 10th in the SEC. The blocking and snapping issues — there have been a handful of off-target snaps by Seth McLaughlin — haven’t cost Alabama a game yet, they were a contributing factor in the Texas loss. Overall, the offensive line has the most room for growth when weighing preseason expectations.

Most disturbing trend: Penalties canceling out touchdowns

The Crimson Tide has had six touchdowns called back this season due to penalties. That’s a huge issue.

In the Texas game, Alabama saw two scores reversed due to flags. UA lost that game by 10 points and it could have been a very different contest at the end had Saban’s bunch not shot itself in the foot.

Even in the win over Texas A&M last week, the Tide still had one score walked back due to a call. That trend will have to be reversed, or it will come back to bite Alabama at some point in the back half of the slate.

Most impactful newcomer: Caleb Downs

Saban has repeatedly said Downs, a freshman, doesn’t play like a first-year player. And after a few rookie mistakes, Downs leads the Tide with 47 total tackles. Downs instincts have been apparent and the ball skills have started to emerge with interceptions in back-to-back games. His takeaway of Texas A&M’s Max Johnson was a crucial swing in Alabama’s 26-20 comeback win.

Best sport: Terrion Arnold

Nick Saban looked screaming mad on the sideline after Mississippi State scored a touchdown a play where Arnold mistimed his corner blitz. It was one of several moments in that game where Alabama’s coach got hot over a mistake.

Arnold could have shut down, or been angry to be on the wrong end of a butt-chewing while television cameras were rolling. Instead, when asked about the moment in the week following the win, he explained the way he used the lecture to improve.

Biggest question moving forward: Can the defense maintain its excellence?

With 22 sacks, seven interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries, Alabama has gotten close to the ‘joyless murderball’ linebacker Dallas Turner said would return this year. The defense has triggered a quartet of second-half rallies, even more impressive when considering key starters have missed games like Deontae Lawson and Jaheim Oatis.

Alabama has flexed its depth at linebacker and defensive line while utilizing versatility in the secondary. Regardless of who’s calling the plays (Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin theorized it was not the returning Kevin Steele but Travaris Robinson) the unit has shown dominance. Only two teams have scored a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game against Alabama.

While the offense formalizes a true identity, the defense could be good enough to carry the Tide to Atlanta and the SEC title game.