It’s early, but it’s also late. Alabama absolutely cannot afford another loss this season. Not when the standard is the CFP. Last year’s 11-2 season was considered an underachievement, at least to the scores of devotees who are soaked in the glory of Saban’s six national championships since 2009.

In this post-Texas loss world somewhere, Paul Finebaum isn’t doing show prep for Monday afternoon. He’s sharpening (verbal) knives.

We kid, of course, but this kind of thing will sustain local, state and national media for weeks. This is a Saban, The Great One, caught without a difference-making quarterback. Apparently.

And if there is one sure thing that will get you beat on the field or in the court of public opinion, it’s not having a quarterback. Jalen Milroe has the misfortune of following Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. All started for NFL teams in Week 1.

Milroe, at the moment, might as well be in the doghouse.

Let’s not heap this on an innocent kid. There are other holes the Crimson Tide must fill. The offensive line — that was supposed to be a strength — looked disorganized. In the raucous din of Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama was called for a false start. Penalties by the O-line nullified two touchdowns. The defensive backfield got torched by Texas QB Quinn Ewers, who isn’t exactly known for his deep ball. Saban coaches that unit.

Perhaps the scariest sign: Alabama is 6-3 in its last nine games. In seven of those contests, it played with perhaps its best player ever (Young) and the nation’s best defender (Will Anderson Jr.)

This team isn’t the 2022 team, which doesn’t necessarily prove anything. Saban has outcoached his peers before in years when there have been massive personnel losses. However, Saturday’s result will have long-lasted effects until, you know, Bama next wins its next national championship. It’s just that, based on Bama’s last game, it doesn’t look like that is happening anytime soon.

Alabama was exposed against Texas mostly because Saban had inexplicably failed to adequately stock the quarterback room. There is no replacement remotely close to Young. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner was brought in to add depth (at worst) or perhaps take over the job (at best).

Freshman Dylan Lonergan was rated as a top-10 quarterback by 247Sports in Class of 2023. But if Buchner is the Next Best Thing on the bench, that brings further scrutiny. Buchner has thrown all of four touchdown passes since the middle of 2021. Milroe won the job, but it’s clear he has an uphill climb to win the hearts of fans.

He threw two picks Saturday night staring down receivers. Texas turned those turnovers into 10 points. That was its winning margin. It was that simple and that devastating.

In all likelihood, Alabama searched the transfer channel for a quarterback but was unable to find a bigger fish. Keep Tyler Van Dyke of Miami in red, and Alabama is going to prevail on Saturday night. The five touchdown passes that Van Dyke completed on Saturday against Texas A&M were the most in at least 20 years.

You will not succeed in whining, but that won’t deter the wolves.

Kevin Steele is an outstanding defensive coordinator for Alabama right now. They will also pursue him. Tommy Rees, the offensive coordinator, will be hurt. It’s required for the job.

Texas is decent, not outstanding.On Saturday, there was an incredible national story. However, Alabama’s worst mistake might be if the Longhorns finish 8-4 and don’t win the Big 12. Then how do we evaluate Saturday night?

“Never waste a failure,” said an introspective Saban, trotting out one of his favorite lines.

Disregard waste, please. Never mind about the sky collapsing. The fans, the blowtorches, and the wolves have already thought of the worst-case situation that could occur.

What if this is the start of the greatest dynasty the game has ever seen coming to an end?

What a ridiculous reaction, eh?

Attending that early-morning Alabama staff meeting is something you should avoid. And so Saban’s rebirth starts. If all he has created is to last, then it must.