TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's defense is filled with comeback and redemption stories.
There's safety Bray Hubbard, a junior who struggled in a season-opening loss at Florida State and rallied to become a third-team All-America selection.
There's linebacker Deontae Lawson, a senior who tore a ligament in his right knee in November 2024 and worked his way back in time for the opener. He leads the Crimson Tide with 85 tackles.
There's fellow linebacker Justin Jefferson, another senior who initially thought he was out of college eligibility before being granted an additional year as a former junior college transfer. He ranks second on the team in tackles (82) and tackles for loss (6 1/2).
The trio leads the way for a unit that seems determined to make amends for a disappointing season last year. They'll no doubt be ones to watch when the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide (10-3) take on No. 1 Indiana (13-0) and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Alabama is the No. 9 seed in the CFP.
“You think back on where we have gone and you think about a year ago,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. “Not being able to answer the bell and not punch back. Now, I think all our kids do is they fight, they punch and they just keep punching.”
It starts with Hubbard, Lawson and Jefferson — three guys who seem to play with a chip on their shoulder.
Hubbard was widely vilified for his effort against the Seminoles, including one particular play in which he appeared to be jogging, and he didn't bother trying to defend himself. Instead, he vowed to let it fuel him the rest of the season.
Since that 31-17 loss in Tallahassee, Alabama has have been mostly buttoned up on that side of the ball, holding 11 of its last 12 opponents to 24 points or fewer.
“I know he was super disappointed," coach Kalen DeBoer said about Hubbard. "Many guys were, with Week 1, with just the production. I would never really question how important it is to him. It means so much to play at a high level but even more to do it with his teammates.
“He takes it upon himself to make sure that, yes, the unit that’s on the field, the 1s, the 2s, that they’re playing at a high level and held to the standard.”
Lawson and Jefferson could be in the NFL right now. But they were among six defensive starters who put off the draft and opted to stay in school. Among the reasons: they wanted another shot at a national championship after last year’s team stumbled at Oklahoma and got left out of the playoff.
That game was in the front of their minds when Alabama got a rematch in Norman in the opening round of the CFP. Defense was the main reason the Tide turned a 17-0 deficit into a 34-24 victory. The unit intercepted a pass for a touchdown to gain momentum and allowed just seven points in the second half.
“We’ve faced about every offense that you can think of,” Hubbard said. “We’ve kind of seen it all and just keep growing. That’s kind of what you got to do.”
Alabama ranks 13th nationally in total yards allowed (288.9 a game) and points allowed (17.9 a game). Alabama already has wins against several notable QBs, some of them even one-time front-runners in the Heisman race. The list includes Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Oklahoma's John Mateer.
Might Mendoza be next? He has the Hoosiers humming and averaging 472.8 yards and 41.9 points.
Behind Hubbard, Lawson and Jefferson, Alabama is confident it can pull an upset and keep its redemption season rolling.
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FILE - Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard grabs an interception against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
FILE - Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson (10) deflects a pass meant for Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
FILE - Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson celebrates after recovering a fumble against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
A trendy preseason pick to go far in the postseason, the Detroit Lions won't be playing beyond Sunday at Soldier Field. One of their fans, however, continues to have a big impact on the NFL's playoff picture heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
The league suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf for the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers' final two games and levied a hefty fine against the team's best pass catcher for taking a swipe at Lions fan Ryan Kennedy in the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 victory two weeks ago.
Metcalf was sorely missed in the Steelers' 13-6 loss at Cleveland on Sunday that set up a winner-take-all showdown between Pittsburgh (9-7) and the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) this weekend. The winner wins the AFC North and gets to host a first-round playoff game. The losers clear out their lockers and pack for vacation.
The same scenario is playing out in the NFC between the Carolina Panthers (8-8) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) with the winner claiming the NFC South title and a home playoff game against an NFC West team with a much better record.
Aaron Rodgers didn't find the end zone Sunday. On fourth-and-goal from the 7 with 21 seconds left, he targeted Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and threw incomplete to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“That was definitely interference,” Rodgers complained of the bang-bang play.
What Rodgers never saw on Pittsburgh's last-gasp play was running back Kenneth Gainwell uncovered and wide open underneath for a touchdown that would have given the Steelers the chance to tie the game or win it with a 2-point conversion and clinch the division.
The Steelers mustered just two field goals against Cleveland after averaging 28 points over their previous three games, all wins.
“Well, the biggest issue is they don't have DK Metcalf,” studio analyst Jason Garrett said on the pregame show for NBC's Sunday Night Football telecast. "Pittsburgh's been playing small-ball on offense all year long. They run it and the ball comes out of Aaron's hand quickly in all the short stuff. And then when they get a chance, 1-on-1, they throw it to DK Metcalf and make an explosive play.
“Take him out of it, they're not very explosive," Garrett added. "They don't make big plays down the field and they don't score a lot of points.”
“Yeah, today they played like they still had him, trying to go to those 1-on-1 matchups,” concurred fellow studio analyst Devin McCourty, who suggested the Steelers are better off getting the ball into the hands of running backs Gainwell and Jaylen Warren than the patchwork receiving corps missing Metcalf.
"Getting the backs more involved will be the key for next week,” McCourty predicted.
Garrett also had some friendly advice for the Steelers as they prepare to keep up with Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who's coming off a 216-yard, four-TD performance at Green Bay.
“You know, Baltimore watched the tape, so they're going to play man-to-man coverage,” Garrett said. “I think the biggest thing for Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, he has to get the receivers in stacks and bunches and motions to loosen up the tight man-to-man coverage to wriggle those guys free.”
The Steelers find themselves in this precarious position because Metcalf lost his cool with the fan in Detroit, rendering him unavailable until next Monday — either in preparation for the playoffs or to clean out his locker.
Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson said on a podcast last week that Metcalf told him Kennedy used a racial slur and verbally disparaged Metcalf’s mother, an allegation that Kennedy denied through his attorneys.
Coach Mike Tomlin said he didn't condone Metcalf's actions that led to his two-game ban but made clean Metcalf had his full support.
Having his back is one thing.
What Steelers Nation would certainly prefer is having Metcalf back on the field to extend their season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf wipes his face on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
