### Alabama Football Prepares for Crucial Showdown Against Missouri Amid Uncommon Season Struggles

In an unfamiliar scenario reminiscent of 2007, Alabama football finds itself grappling with two losses before November, marking a challenge not faced since Nick Saban's inaugural season at the helm. The Crimson Tide, now led by first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, is gearing up for a daunting matchup against Missouri.

DeBoer, who is encountering a new level of scrutiny from fans and media alike, has seemingly risen to the challenge, according to his players. "He's been great leading us," remarked cornerback Domani Jackson earlier this week. "Just preaching about the team and what we've got to do."

Alabama suffered a 24-17 loss to Tennessee last Saturday in Knoxville, plagued by self-inflicted mistakes. This defeat followed a significant loss to Vanderbilt, their first since 1984, signaling a pivotal moment in the season. Despite the mounting external pressures, the coaching staff, including tight end CJ Dippre, advises the team to focus inwardly. "We can't really worry about the last few weeks. We haven't played to our standard, the Bama standard," Dippre noted. "Just worrying about, internally, what we're doing, not our opponent or anything. Just play Bama football."

Missouri, entering Saturday's game with a 6-1 record, presents a considerable challenge. The Tigers secured a dramatic comeback win against Auburn last week thanks to quarterback Brady Cook, who remarkably returned to lead his team after undergoing an MRI during the game. Missouri's powerful receiving corps, featuring standouts like Luther Burden III and Theo Wease, adds to Alabama's concerns.

The upcoming game, crucial for Alabama's already tenuous College Football Playoff hopes, is by no means certain. Missouri enters the contest ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press top 25 poll. Defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham emphasized the importance of mental resilience and unity heading into this decisive match. "Once you take an L, or two Ls from Alabama, there's a lot of outside noise. Just making sure that we keep the main thing the main thing and know what our job is, and that's to go out and perform on Saturday," Latham said.

Alabama and Missouri are set to clash at 2:45 p.m. CT on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with the game broadcast on ABC. The outcome could very well determine the trajectory of Alabama's season, making it essential for the Crimson Tide to reclaim their standard of excellence.