Alabama Players Shift Focus After Recent Losses

The No. 13 ranked Crimson Tide are emphasizing increased practice intensity ahead of their game against Texas A&M.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Football

Alabama Players Shift Focus After Recent Losses

Live Poll

Does visible team leadership help a struggling local sports team improve its performance?

Alabama safety Bray Hubbard addressed the football team during a morning meeting to foster a new mindset. The squad is working to embrace discomfort following two consecutive losses.

Why it matters

Coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff are looking to elevate practice intensity to correct recent struggles. The team aims to regain its competitive edge before hosting Texas A&M this Saturday.

Alabama currently holds the No. 13 spot in the national rankings following consecutive losses over the past two weeks. The team is now focusing on the 'comfortable being uncomfortable' motto to drive performance improvements.

The players

Bray Hubbard

He is a safety for the Alabama football team who delivered a motivational speech to his teammates during a team meeting.

Kalen DeBoer

He serves as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide and has emphasized the need for the team to embrace discomfort.

Devan Thompkins

He is a defensive lineman for Alabama who addressed his teammates during practice stretches to improve intensity.

The details

During Tuesday practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium, players engaged in heightened physical play and direct verbal communication. Alongside Hubbard, defensive lineman Devan Thompkins addressed teammates during stretching exercises to reinforce the team's commitment to higher intensity.

October 20, 2026: Bray Hubbard delivers his speech during a morning team meeting.
October 24, 2026: Alabama plays Texas A&M at home.

Season Trajectory

These practice adjustments follow the established pattern of mid-season course corrections often seen in competitive college football programs. The team's ability to integrate this new mindset will determine their positioning in the playoff race as they face Texas A&M.

Alabama must secure a victory against Texas A&M this Saturday to prevent further slides in the national rankings and maintain eligibility for high-tier post-season play. The increased practice intensity suggests fans should expect more aggressive defensive schemes and physical play on the field.

The takeaway

Embracing discomfort is a common strategy used by top-tier athletic programs to push players beyond their perceived limits. Implementing this shift during practice is intended to manifest as higher execution during game-day pressure situations.