Alabama Football has become Indiana Football South

Michael Penix looks toward the sideline and gets the play from Nick Sheridan. It is their best two-point play to force overtime. After holding the opposing defense to a field goal with Kane Wommack's defensive scheme, Sheridan cooks up another great play for Penix and the offense to upset the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Here's another one:

With an injured Michael Penix looking on, Peyton Ramsey out duels Aidan O'Connell in West Lafayette with Kalen DeBoer cooking up plays to bring the Old Oaken Bucket back to Bloomington. Your mind isn't playing tricks on you; both really happened.

The first was the opening game of 2020 when Indiana upset Penn State on their way to a 6-2 record and an Outback Bowl appearance. The second was 2019 and a classic Old Oaken Bucket Game. The Hoosiers would go 8-5 and play in the Gator Bowl.

Many of the coaches from those two seasons -- the most successful seasons in recent Indiana Football history -- now try to do the unthinkable: succeed the Nick Saban. His superlatives proceed him. He's the greatest of all time. Now, the Crimson Tide hope a staff of former Hoosiers can continue what Coach Saban started.

Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer

DeBoer has won everywhere he's coached. The South Dakota native was the architect of Indiana's offense in 2019 and began to help Michael Penix realize his potential as a quarterback while at Indiana. They'd do it together at Washington, playing for a National Championship this past season.

Offensive Coordinator: Nick Sheridan

Michigan native Nick Sheridan spent five seasons on Indiana's coaching staff. He coached tight ends and quarterbacks and was the offensive coordinator there. Sheridan followed DeBoer to Washington and became offensive coordinator at Alabama when Ryan Grubb took the same position with the Seattle Seahawks.

Defensive Coordinator: Kane Wommack:

Wommack was defensive coordinator at Indiana for three seasons as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. He left Bloomington to become head coach at South Alabama. Wommack resigned his position to be the defensive coordinator at Alabama under DeBoer.

Linebackers Coach: William Inge

Inge had been part of Indiana's staff since 2013, coaching linebackers and special teams. He followed DeBoer to Washington to coach the same positions. He will serve as linebackers coach for the Crimson Tide.

Their Impossible Mission

These men have the task of replacing the irreplaceable at Alabama. They've won at every stop on their coaching journeys. Despite the pressure of winning in Tuscaloosa, this staff has an opportunity to be successful. How that success is measured is another matter entirely.