Defense optional? Media reacts to a record-shattering shootout victory for Alabama over Ole Miss

Much of the talk during the Alabama-Ole Miss game was about the Ole Miss offense putting up loads of yards on the Alabama defense and coordinator Pete Golding.

The numbers were mind boggling in a 63-48 Alabama victory.

The Rebels easily rolled over the most yards record for an opponent in Alabama history with 647 yards thanks to a late field goal. The 48 points were also the most Alabama has allowed to an unranked opponent in the history of the AP poll.

Here is a sampling of the media reaction to all of those yards and points:

Georgia is going to be favored in Bryant-Denny next week, right? Georgia -2?

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 11, 2020

From @ESPNStatsInfo: #OleMiss‘ 48 points marks the most #Alabama has allowed to an unranked opponent in the history of the AP poll (1936 to present).

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 11, 2020

Ole Miss now has 644 yards, the most by any opponent in Alabama school history.

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 11, 2020

OleMiss now has over 600 yards of offense on Alabama and there’s still more than half a quarter left. Wow.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 11, 2020

Nick Saban is speaking for everyone on Alabama Twitter rn pic.twitter.com/rEkuLZzcje

— Adam Weil (@AdamWeil22) October 11, 2020

The most points an unranked team has scored against Alabama in the AP Poll era (since 1936) is 47, by Colorado in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 13, 1969

Entering Saturday, Alabama has won its last 92 games against unranked opponents, the longest streak in AP Poll history (since 1936) pic.twitter.com/3PGYOi0ghs

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 11, 2020

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss’s 45 PTS are the most points a former Nick Saban assistant has ever scored in a game against Saban. pic.twitter.com/fIYkCxgh90

— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) October 11, 2020

This is unbelievably entertaining…Kiffin sat in enough meetings with Saban to know what he hates defending…and he’s running all of it

— Charles Hanagriff (@C_Hanagriff) October 11, 2020

Did Saban just Kiffin, Kiffin?

— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) October 11, 2020

Ole Miss came into the game dead last in total defense at 600 yards per game. Alabama has 665 yards of total offense.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) October 11, 2020

Only one drive this half by either team failed to result in a touchdown. Kiffin kicked the field goal, and I get it, because it’s almost unfathomable to think an SEC defense can’t get a single second-half stop.

But the Ole Miss defense is a special kind of bad

— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 11, 2020

Best news for Alabama is that Ole Miss has to be done running the ball. 276 on the ground, and more than 5 a carry.

— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) October 11, 2020

FITTING: Sark gave Kiffin some of his own medicine. 14-yards on the sweep by DeVonta. Tide leads by 11 with just about 3 left to play.

Really, the only thing that would’ve made that more beautifully ironic, is if it had been a bubble screen.

56-45, here in the WAC South.

— Roll ‘Bama Roll (@rollbamaroll) October 11, 2020

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.