KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Alabama's bottom line under Nick Saban hasn't changed one iota.

The No. 1 Crimson Tide are still winning at a head-spinning clip, still collecting national championship hardware and still beating Tennessee every year. But to say it's the same, old Alabama would be like saying it's the same, old Godzilla.

The world's most feared lizard is still wreaking havoc and still breathing fire on the silver screen. He's just a little more refined, a little sleeker and a little more with the times.

The same goes for Alabama's football machine, which once again turned the Third Saturday in October into its own little gala with a 49-10 drubbing of the Vols at Neyland Stadium, the Crimson Tide's 10th consecutive victory in a rivalry that really hasn't been much of one for the last decade.

It's not so much that Alabama handed Tennessee the second most lopsided defeat in the history of this series (Alabama won 51-0 way back in 1906). It's the way the Crimson Tide did it, and the way they continue to evolve as they keep winning games. Their overall winning streak is up to 19 straight games now, the longest active streak in the FBS.

"You play the way you need to play under the rules the way they are," Saban said. "If you don't, you're going to get left behind."

Think about it. Did anybody really see Saban playing a true freshman quarterback five years ago? For that matter, did anybody see Saban breaking away from his pro-style approach and running the quarterback as much as Alabama is with Jalen Hurts, who torched the Vols for 132 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries?

The dual-threat ability of Jalen Hurts has elevated Alabama's offense to an even higher level. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

But here's the clincher: The Tide are going hurry-up on offense, using tempo, not huddling and spreading out the defense, the style of football Saban was railing against as recently as three years ago.

For a guy who has been accused more than once of being stubborn and a creature of habit, Saban is as progressive as they come when it comes to his football team.

He flashes a wry smile when asked how it feels to officially be one of the "fastball guys," Saban's term for the coaches who run hurry-up offenses, the same offenses that were allegedly his kryptonite on defense when he had the audacity to go two straight years in 2013 and 2014 without winning a national championship.

The reality is offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is the one who has transformed Alabama's offense, but Saban is the one who brought Kiffin in and gave him that license. Yes, their animated exchanges on the sideline are priceless -- what Saban calls "ass-chewings" when Kiffin gets a little too far out there on the plank. But it's a fact that Hurts, an explosive athlete, adds a whole different dimension to the Alabama offense with his ability to run the zone read, make people miss and also throw the ball on the move.

And as Saban notes, Hurts is growing and only getting better each week.

One of the things Saban likes best about Hurts is he's not averse to hard coaching. Saban jumped on Hurts pretty good a couple of times in the first half after the freshman committed turnovers against Tennessee, but Hurts was unfazed, took the tongue-lashing and came back and played that much better.

It's not Kiffin's first rodeo, either. He knew during the preseason that this wasn't going to be an elite Alabama offensive line. It's a line that's improving, but simply isn't on a par with some of the dominant offensive lines the Crimson Tide have had in years past. So a quarterback who can extend the play, run around and put pressure on a defense with his legs was probably going to be this offensive line's best friend.

Saban was on board, even though that quarterback was a true freshman.

"The hardest quarterback to face is a dual-threat quarterback," Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden said. "(Hurts) exploited us being able to get around the edge and deliver on the long ball when needed. Where he hurt us the most was being able to get around the edge and provide explosive plays for his team."

Even on defense, which has long been Alabama's backbone under Saban, the Crimson Tide have a different makeup.

Go back and look at the Alabama defense on that 2009 national championship team, or even the 2011 and 2012 national championship teams. The defensive linemen were bigger and bulkier. It's hard to believe, for instance, that Terrence Cody would be able to play on this defense and in this age of college football. Alabama is leaner across the defensive front, and its speed on defense is the best it's ever been under Saban.

Ronnie Harrison became the latest Alabama defender to score a touchdown with this interception return. Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Sports

"We're faster at every position, but that was something we went out and addressed on defense in recruiting because of the way everybody is playing now on offense," Saban said. "It's been a couple of years in the making."

Already this season, seven of Alabama's 11 defensive starters have scored touchdowns, and the Tide have scored 11 nonoffensive touchdowns as a team, including special teams touchdowns. The only touchdown they gave up to Tennessee on Saturday was after Hurts was sacked and lost a fumble at the Vols' 11.

"We made it a point of emphasis this offseason for a bunch of guys to shed a little bit of weight, get a little smaller so we could play these speed-ball teams," Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. "We've done a good job of stopping that this year."

Tennessee, which was missing several starters due to injury, averaged just 2.6 yards per play. Alabama, meanwhile, churned out 438 rushing yards, the most the Crimson Tide have gained on the ground since the 1986 season.

"We saw they didn't have a lot of depth on defense, and we just kept fast tempo all game, and they got tired," Alabama tight end O.J. Howard said.

The rest of the country may be tired of Alabama winning all the time, and Saban is the last person who's ever going to take winning for granted.

That's why he's constantly adapting, constantly tweaking and constantly looking for different and better ways to do things.

Even if it means becoming a quasi-fastball guy.