▁the ▁worst ▁loss ▁of ▁the ▁S aban ▁era ▁and ▁the ▁worst ▁loss ▁for ▁the ▁program ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁when ▁L SU ▁defeated ▁Alabama ▁ 2 7 – 3 . ▁▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁Season ▁ ▁Alabama ▁entered ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁season ▁as ▁the ▁reign ing ▁SE C ▁Champions ▁and ▁ranked ▁number ▁ 2 ▁in ▁the ▁nation ▁behind ▁reign ing ▁national ▁champion ▁C lem son . ▁Alabama ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁blow out ▁win ▁over ▁Duke , ▁ 4 2 - 3 ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁Ch ick ▁Fil a ▁K ick off ▁Game ▁in ▁Atlanta . ▁The ▁season ▁saw ▁its ▁share ▁of ▁mis fort une . ▁While ▁Alabama ▁was ▁und efe ated ▁going ▁into ▁their ▁game ▁vs ▁L SU ▁in ▁November , ▁the ▁season ▁ending ▁inj uries ▁had ▁p iled ▁up , ▁mainly ▁on ▁an ▁already ▁young ▁and ▁in ex per ien ced ▁defense . ▁It ▁turned ▁out ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁worst ▁defense ▁in ▁Nick ▁S aban ' s ▁career . ▁Q B ▁T ua ▁Tag ov ail oa ▁suffered ▁a ▁high ▁an k le ▁sp rain ▁against ▁Tennessee ▁that ▁required ▁surg ery ▁and ▁put ▁him ▁out ▁of ▁action ▁for ▁weeks . ▁Back up ▁Q B ▁Mac ▁Jones ▁took ▁over ▁and ▁Alabama ▁won ▁the ▁game ▁ 3 5 - 1 3 , ▁but ▁the ▁game ▁was ▁closer ▁than ▁the ▁final ▁score ▁indicated . ▁Jones ▁would ▁play ▁the ▁entire ▁game ▁the ▁following ▁week ▁vs . ▁Ark ansas ▁as ▁B ama ▁rolled ▁to