Every week, the CFP Vibe Check tries to put its finger on where things stand in the College Football Playoff race without overreacting to what it just saw, but also probably overreacting to everything it just saw. Keelon Russell is terrifying. I couldn't shake this feeling as I watched Russell and No. 7 Alabama take the September Cinderella Story known as No. 16 Mississippi State and mash it into an unrecognizable paste.
The Tide won 56-23, and it was eerily reminiscent of every Alabama performance we've seen so far this season. The Tide are now 5-0 and have outscored opponents 248-104. They've scored at least 45 points in every game, and mind you, this hasn't been against your typical early-season schedule.
While plenty of teams have run it up against FCS and G6 foes, four of Alabama's first five games have been against Power Four teams. The Tide is already 3-0 in SEC play and has a win over Florida State as well. And Keelon Russell is a primary reason why.
I'm not going to argue that he's the best quarterback or player in the country. But he might be the guy defensive coordinators least want to see in a playoff game. Don't get me wrong, I know Jeremiah Smith exists, and there aren't many defenses out there with a concrete plan on how to stop him, but you can at least slow him down if you put pressure on Julian Sayin.
I don't know that you can pressure Russell. I swear there are no fewer than three times per game when, by all rights, Russell should be sacked. The defense has him surrounded in the pocket, with nowhere to go, but then the next thing you know, he's found somewhere to go, and he's gone there.
Often going even further. They're the kind of plays defenses can't plan for, and they're the kind that break your spirit. You do everything right, and it doesn't matter.
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