A dose of humility has turned Alabama into a relentless underdog. A response of respect has propelled the Tide right back to where it's expected to be.
On Friday afternoon in the Cotton Bowl, Phil Mathis certainly "#MadeEmmPhilit", dominating the Cincinnati offensive line to the tune of three tackles, two of which for loss, a sack and two pass breakups.
So, what can the Bearcats do to carry the banner for the Group of 5 conferences against big bad Bama? Follow the blueprint laid out by the teams the Tide struggled with.
No. 1 Alabama is taking on No. 4 Cincinnati at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, for the first round of the CFP, a venue which the Tide hasn't lost in since its opening in 2009.