Alabama
Top 5 performances for Alabama Football in the NFL Week 2
Former Alabama Football players continue to show-out in the NFL, and Week 2 was no different. The Crimson Tide is always well represented on Sundays, and any time you flip the channel you are bound to see a former ‘Bama player making plays on both sides of the ball.
An Alabama player scored a touchdown for the 86th consecutive week, h/t to Alabama Pro Updates on twitter for tracking that. I have no idea if that is an NFL record, but it’s gotta be.
Calvin Ridley scores on an end-around to extend the touchdown streak to 86 weeks.
— Alabama Pro Updates (@BamaProUpdates) September 15, 2024
Narrowng down to five performances is never easy, and it certainly wasn’t this week. Marlon Humphrey, Xavier McKinney, and Brian Branch all picked off passes, but they fell just short of the list this week. Will Reichard is another honorable mention after hitting his first field goal in the NFL and finishing 3/3 on the day.
Of course, there’s still Monday Night Football to be played, and Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith might have something to say about this list, but for now:
5. Derrick Henry
It was a losing effort for the Ravens as Baltimore fell to a disappointing 0-2 on the young season, but Derrick Henry did what Derrick Henry does. He carried the ball 18 times and gained 84-yards and scored his second touchdown of the season against the Raiders.
He had a highlight reel run in the third quarter where he hit his patented stiff-arm and sent a Raiders defender flying:
Gotta love that Derrick Henry stiff arm. 😤pic.twitter.com/YqMSuquhQV
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) September 15, 2024
Henry looks to be getting more comfortable in Baltimore, and the Ravens should figure things out soon enough and get back to looking like the AFC contender they typically are.
4. Will Anderson Jr.
In his first opportunity in a primetime spot this season, the Terminator once again showed why he’s one of the best young edge rushers in the NFL. The reigning defensive rookie of the year helped lead a dominant defensive effort for the Texans against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Bears.
Will Anderson Jr. didn’t miss this sack.
The reigning DROY racks up the @HoustonTexans 4th sack of the night!
📺: #CHIvsHOU on NBC/Peacock — NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ZV8kSNODWH
Anderson finished with 1.5 sacks on the night and should’ve gotten one more, but the elusive Williams evaded it. Led by former Alabama LB DeMeco Ryans at head coach, the Texans are off to a 2-0 start, and Anderson will continue tormenting quarterbacks the rest of the season.
3. Josh Jacobs
With Jordan Love injured, the Packers had little choice but to lean on Josh Jacobs as they looked to avoid an 0-2 start in a home game against the Colts. Most pundits didn’t give them a chance, but Jacobs put the team on his back and helped deliver Green Bay a key victory, likely with a few Alabama fans in attendance who made the trip to Green Bay on Sunday after watching the Tide roll over Wisconsin on Saturday.
Josh Jacobs now’s your time to EAT pic.twitter.com/uLZHGF83kg
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) September 15, 2024
Jacobs carried the ball 32 times and picked up 151 yards in the process. He’s up to 235 yards rushing through two weeks to begin his Green Bay tenure on a high note. He’s yet to find the endzone in two weeks, but the Jacobs signing is paying immediate dividends for the Packers so far.
2. Brian Robinson Jr.
It was a career day for Brian Robinson as he helped lead the Commanders to a 21-18 win over the division rival Giants. Robinson turned 17 carries into 133 yards, setting his career high on the ground in the process. He also pulled a houdini act on a career-long 40-yard rush on a 3rd-and-1:
Brian Robinson Jr. just pulled off a magic trick 👀
📺: #NYGvsWAS on FOX — NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/5IyJP0JVn0
It was the most carries Robinson has received since November 19th last season, a fact he was well aware of in the postgame. It was also the first 100-yard rushing game Robinson has had since his rookie season in 2022 when he eclipsed the century mark in a November win over the Falcons.
Hopefully Robinson continues to see his role expand and he remains a focal point for Washington.
1. Calvin Ridley
After a year-long suspension from the NFL in 2022, Ridley made his return last season for the Jaguars and played well enough to earn a 4-year, $92 million contract with the Titans. In his second game as a Titan, Ridley delivered.
Ridley scored the first rushing touchdown of his NFL career on a 10-yard end-around. Late in the third quarter, Ridley hauled in a 40-yard touchdown that tied the game.
CALVIN RIDLEY. Elite 40-yard TD grab to tie the game!
📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/oqgFd24Dqi— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
The Titans ultimately would fall 24-17 to the Jets to drop to 0-2 on the young season, but Ridley had the only multi-touchdown game of the week from a former Tide player.
Jalen Milroe is making the leap. dark. Next. Jalen Milroe making the leap
Enter your email and we’ll send a secure one-click link to sign in.
WKRG News 5 is provided by Nexstar Media Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
WKRG News 5 is provided by Nexstar Media Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Nexstar Media Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Plaintiffs have appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court after a circuit judge last week dismissed their lawsuit against Republican gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville.
The suit argues Tuberville does not meet the Alabama Constitution’s eligibility requirements to serve as governor.
In the appeal filing, plaintiff’s attorney Barry Ragsdale said the issue is “whether the circuit court had subject matter jurisdiction to hear Plaintiffs’ claims.”
It is unclear when the Alabama Supreme Court will rule.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid ruled July 9 that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.
The plaintiffs, two Alabama voters, claim Tuberville’s primary residence is in Florida and argue he does not meet the constitutional requirement that candidates for governor be Alabama residents for at least seven years before the general election.
On June 29, Tuberville’s legal team and the plaintiffs argued the case in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Tuberville previously cleared a challenge from fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters.
The Alabama GOP Candidate Committee unanimously ruled Tuberville is qualified to run for governor, citing documentation including an Alabama driver’s license, voting record and tax returns.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
In certain outposts throughout the South, it’s pronounced “progrum,” not program.
However you say it, the SEC footprint houses some of the most celebrated and iconic college football programs in all the land, complete with rabid fanbases that breathe college football all year. Games are played in towering cathedrals where the crowds partake in what’s almost a religious experience on fall Saturdays.
When evaluating the SEC’s programs, recent results should be considered, but rankings also should reflect historical success, traditions, blue-blood status and fan support.
Here’s how I rank the SEC’s programs, top to bottom:
Alabama football is more than a program, and it’s bigger than an international brand. It’s a way of life. The Script A represents tradition and excellence. Alabama fans are plugged in year-round to their favorite sport, and expectations rarely dip. Coaches who thrive in T-Town are immortalized in bronze. The GOAT conversation runs through Alabama. Is it Nick Saban or Bear Bryant? Either way, it’s an Alabama coach.
2. Oklahoma
The crimson and cream have blue blood. Among SEC schools, Oklahoma trails only Alabama for all-time winning percentage. Double-digit win seasons remain the standard, although the 2000 Sooners remain OU’s last national champion. Oklahoma ruled the 1950s under Bud Wilkinson, then ran back their dominance with Barry Switzer’s wishbone in the 1970s and 80s. Seven Heisman winners point to the program’s star power.
3. Texas
Texas’ deep war chest suits the NIL era, but don’t mistake the Longhorns for the nouveau riche. They’re a traditional power that emerged from an inexcusable, prolonged slumber in between Mack Brown and Steve Sarkisian. Texas enjoyed its heyday in the Southwest Conference under Darrell Royal, but the Longhorns also showed their horns during the Brown era. They belong among the heavy hitters.
The Bulldogs don’t crack the list of blue bloods, but Kirby Smart made them look like one. Georgia has seized a place of persistent power that was long considered possible, because of the school’s location within fertile recruiting terrain. Smart flawlessly implemented Saban’s recruit-and-develop blueprint. We’re witnessing Georgia’s glory days, decades after Herschel Walker and Vince Dooley supplied the previous peak in the early 1980s.
5. LSU
LSU is the only program to have three coaches win a national championship in this millennium. Lane Kiffin could become the fourth. Money poured in to fund his roster. LSU’s standards are such that Brian Kelly got fired after winning 71% of his games. In-state talent gravitates to LSU, but the Tigers also built a national brand, and a night game at Tiger Stadium is a college football mecca.
6. Tennessee
Few states can match Tennessee’s unrelenting vigor for college football. Gen. Robert Neyland put the Vols on the map and got his name on the stadium. Johnny Majors earned a place of adoration. Phillip Fulmer’s Vols flourished in the 1990s. Since Fulmer, Tennessee’s ravenous fans infrequently had a chance to say, “It feels like ’98.” For too long, it felt more like dysfunction, but Tennessee recaptured respectability under Josh Heupel.
Few individuals mean more to a program than what Steve Spurrier means to Florida. He revolutionized the Gators from an also-ran into one of the premier programs of the 1990s. The Head Ball Coach branded The Swamp and gave the Gators an identity. They became SEC championship game regulars. Urban Meyer injected more glory with two titles. Florida lacks the consistency and history of some higher-ranked programs, but its peaks are just as lofty.
These are dark days for Auburn. The Tigers endured five consecutive losing seasons, their bleakest period since the late 1940s. Auburn’s loyal fan base deserves better. Recent woes aside, this accomplished program achieved undefeated seasons under three coaches since the 1990s. From Pat Sullivan to Bo Jackson to Cam Newton, Auburn produced decorated stars. Now, it just needs to pull out of this funk.
Trivia question: When did Texas A&M last win a national championship? Answer: 1939. The Aggies possess the financial resources, fan support and recruiting location to be top shelf, but greatness stubbornly eludes them. R.C. Slocum’s Aggies ruled the Southwest Conference in the early 1990s. Is it time for a fresh set of glory days? Mike Elko’s early returns suggest it’s safe for the Aggies to dream of ascending to their potential.
10. Mississippi
Those old enough to witness Johnny Vaught remember Ole Miss as a powerhouse. Those who watched Archie Manning remember the Rebels with a superstar. Then, Kiffin and Trinidad Chambliss made it so everyone can remember Ole Miss as a playoff team with a premier quarterback. Kiffin treated the Rebels like they were small by leaving for LSU, but not before spawning an uprising that showed the school’s potential in the NIL era.
Arkansas piled up Southwest Conference hardware under Frank Broyles, along with an undefeated season. The conference crowns ceased after Arkansas left in 1991 for the SEC, where there’s been more famine than feast for the Hogs. Even in the SEC, the Razorbacks enjoyed a few highlight seasons, but those uprisings are fading into the rearview mirror. The Hogs need another Darren McFadden.
The Tigers tout seven seasons of double-digit-wins in the past 20 years. They transitioned to the SEC better than many expected. Gary Pinkel became the best thing to happen to Mizzou since Dan Devine. Eliah Drinkwitz has been a gift, too. Anyone who’s a millennial or older can remember the program’s highlight moments, even if they never resulted in a Big 12 or SEC title.
13. Mississippi State
Dan Mullen and Mike Leach did it well for Mississippi State, but Starkville remains one of the toughest SEC outposts to win big or to sustain success. Jackie Sherrill’s 74 wins are the most for any Mississippi State coach. He needed 13 seasons to reach that number. You can’t take the cowbells away from Mississippi State, nor its 15-12 record in bowl games.
14. South Carolina
Spurrier’s successful 11-year run at South Carolina ranks among the best program-building feats in modern history. He won 11 games three seasons in a row, and his teams finished ranked in the top 10 each year. The Gamecocks never won 11 games before Spurrier, and they’ve never hit double digits since he left. Aside from Spurrier’s tenure, the peaks are few and far between.
A program that employed Bear Bryant (and finished 11-1 under the Bear in 1950) can’t rank last on this list, so here we arrive at Kentucky. What can we say about the Wildcats? Well, they own a winning record against Vanderbilt, and they occasionally aren’t as bad as you’d expect a basketball school to be. Mark Stoops got them to a respectable level, but was unable to keep things afloat.
16. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s 10 wins last year register as its single-season record, so you could say the program’s never looked better. The less said, the better, about much of Vanderbilt’s history — unless you want to discuss the 1904 season. That year, Vanderbilt went 9-0 and outscored its competition 474-4. Glory days.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
-
West Virginia4 minutes agoNew law allows employers to provide benefits for independent contractors in West Virginia
-
Wyoming10 minutes agoElection Q&A: Jessica Crowder for Wyoming House District 43
-
Crypto16 minutes agoBlackrock Becomes World’s First $15 Trillion Asset Manager, Unleashes Tokenization Blitz
-
Finance22 minutes agoBig financing steps forward for The 78, Foundry Park projects
-
Fitness28 minutes agoMore Muscle, Less Fat—Is This High-Tech Workout A New Fitness Answer?
-
Movie Reviews40 minutes agoFilm Review: “The Odyssey” – MediaMikes
-
World52 minutes ago
Movie Review: In Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ an ancient epic is reborn
-
Health1 hour agoThe Epicenter of Drug Deaths in America Is Shifting West
