The Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide 20-17 in a regular-season NFL match on October 10th, 2026. It was a close encounter that ended with the visitors taking all three points. And here's the thing — you'd have to look hard to find a bigger contrast to their meeting just one week earlier.
On October 3rd the Crimson Tide had crushed the Bulldogs 56-23, a scoreline that suggested the hosts were far superior. By then the Bulldogs had only one loss in their five games, but that heavy defeat against the Crimson Tide had thrown questions about their consistency. This time around they showed they could compete when it mattered.
The Crimson Tide's recent form has been impressive. They had won their previous four matches comfortably, including that dominant 56-23 victory over the Bulldogs. Their last five results showed scores of 56-23, 49-18, 50-36, 45-17 and 48-10. The Bulldogs too had been strong, with victories of 38-14, 41-13, 45-17, 70-20 and 63-3 in their last five games.
What this match tells you is that the gap between these two sides is narrower than last week's score suggested. The Bulldogs didn't need to dominate — they just needed to hold their nerve. To be fair, pulling off a win when you've just been blown out 39 points is no small achievement.
The result means the Bulldogs have now split their two meetings with the Crimson Tide this season. One week ago they were asking questions about their level. Now they have a point to build on, and a reminder that they can compete when the pressure is on.
