Alabama football history vs interim coaches doesn't favor LSU's Frank Wilson | Goodbread
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If Alabama football’s history against interim coaches can be relied upon at all, it should finish the season in good shape for a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC) will face two of them over the final month of the season in LSU’s Frank Wilson, who replaced the fired Brian Kelly, and D.J. Durkin at Auburn, who has stepped in for Hugh Freeze.
And if there’s ever been an interim coach to knock off Alabama, I can’t find it.
Confirming a negative from the opposite sideline on a program that’s played 1,353 games over 122 years is tricky business, but a fairly exhaustive online dig by yours truly came up with only six instances of interim coaches facing Alabama. The Crimson Tide went 6-0.
Those games are a 1998 Iron Bowl win, 31-17, over interim Auburn coach Bill Oliver; a 52-0 win over Arkansas interim coach John L. Smith in 2012; a 10-0 win over LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron in 2016; a 66-3 win over Ole Miss interim coach Matt Luke in 2017; a 49-27 win over Auburn interim coach Carnell Williams in 2022; and a 40-17 win over Mississippi State coach Zach Arnett in 2023.
In the history of the sport, the very concept of an interim coach is relatively new. For decades, the norm was to let coaches, even those certain to be fired, finish the season as a courtesy. Midseason firings are common now, but were once unheard of, and very rare until around the turn of the century.
LSU’s Wilson will get his interim chance against the Crimson Tide Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).
Matchup to watch
Alabama C Parker Brailsford vs. LSU LB Whit Weeks
Brailsford has been the Crimson Tide’s most consistent offensive lineman, even more so than Kadyn Proctor. He’s got the agility to reach linebackers in space and stay on them, and Weeks is one of the best in the SEC. He’s coming off an ankle injury, but with the Tigers off last week, he’s got a chance to play. Wilson, however, called him “doubtful” to play on Wednesday.
Etc.
If things don’t go well for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier on Saturday, don’t be surprised if backup Michael Van Buren gets an extended look against Alabama. With Nussmeier moving on as a fifth-year senior, the sophomore Van Buren is the future on the Bayou. In a close game, Nussmeier won’t be coming out of the lineup. But if Alabama builds a double-digit lead in the second half, turning to Van Buren makes sense. He showed promise as a freshman at Mississippi State in 2024 and, with Kelly ousted, Wilson might as well coach with an eye toward 2026.
Around the SEC
Freeze became the fourth SEC head coach to be fired this season after a 10-3 home loss to Kentucky that shined too bright a light on a hapless AU offense. With a buyout a little north of $15 million, the Tigers aren’t on the hook for nearly as much as a few other schools looking for a new coach. … Ole Miss, 8-1 with remaining games against The Citadel, Florida and Mississippi State, has a strong shot at the first 11-win regular season in program history. The Rebels are almost certain to notch double-digit wins for the third consecutive year, also a program first. … The hottest seat in the SEC? That’s moved to Lexington now that Auburn has parted ways with Freeze. It’s been another disappointing year for Kentucky, although it won’t be surprising if Mark Stoops is back for 2026. … Former Alabama coach Mike Shula was fired as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator this week after nine games at the helm of the SEC’s worst offense. Shula is the second offensive assistant fired by Shane Beamer this season.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football history vs interim coaches doesn’t favor LSU’s Wilson
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