Although the number of days was relatively the same as every offseason, there's no doubt that this was the longest and most hectic few months away from football for Alabama, possibly ever.
On Jan. 10, legendary Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, who won six National Championships at Alabama over his 17-year tenure, shockingly retired from the game. 48 hours later, practically at DEFCON 1 throughout that span, Alabama hired Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer as Saban's successor.
During the coaching search and even a bit after it, too many Alabama players entered the transfer portal or decommitted. But after a tough journey, DeBoer and company changed the minds of numerous players, including five-star wide receiver recruit Ryan Williams and last season's starting freshman offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
Since then, Alabama players and coaches have been outspoken about the Tide becoming very tight-knit as a team and that the unit is embracing the new era in Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide was placed at the No. 5 spot in Aug. 12's Preseason AP Poll. Like the Coaches Poll, this is also Alabama's lowest placement since the 2009 preseason. Of course, it went on to win its first national title under Nick Saban that year.
In perhaps its most anticipated season in quite some, Alabama (12-2 last season) will kick-off the year at home against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) this Saturday.
Who: Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Western Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 Conference USA)
When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: ESPN
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to kickoff.
SiriusXM: 81
Series: Alabama leads 3-0 with the first meeting occurring on Sept. 13, 2008.
Last Meeting: On Sept. 10, 2016, the Crimson Tide defeated the Hilltoppers 38-13 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 28-of-36 pass attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was certainly Hurts' favorite target that afternoon as he hauled in nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Reuben Foster was the tackles leader with six, Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison each tallied an interception and Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Allen had one sack apiece (Dakota Ball and Ryan Anderson split a sack).
Last Time Out, Alabama: The then-No. 4 Crimson Tide concluded last season with a 27-20 overtime loss to the then-No. 1 Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024. Former Alabama running back (drafted by the Atlanta Falcons) Jase McClellan's 14 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns plus current quarterback Jalen Milroe's 116 passing yards and 63 rushing yards weren't enough to come up with a victory. One week later, Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13 in the National Championship.
Last Time Out, Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers concluded last season with a 44-23 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21, 2023. Former Western Kentucky quarterback (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears) Austin Reed threw a for a collegiate career-high 497 yards and four touchdowns.
Full Week 1 Schedule
All times ET
Thursday's Games
Howard at Rutgers | 6 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Youngstown State at Villanova | 6 p.m. | FloSports
Central State (Ohio) at Morehead State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Reinhardt at Carson-Newman | 6 p.m. | FloSports
Minnesota Duluth at Northern Michigan | 6 p.m. | FloSports
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
New Hampshire at UCF | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Carolina at No. 24 NC State | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
Jackson State at UL Monroe | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Lafayette at Buffalo | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Fordham at Bowling Green | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Connecticut at Central Michigan | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Bryant at Delaware | 7 p.m. | FloSports
VMI at William & Mary | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Presbyterian at Mercer | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Wofford at Gardner-Webb | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Delta State at Mars Hill | 7 p.m. | FloSports
West Texas A&M at Sul Ross State | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU
Duquesne at Toledo | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Quincy at Drake | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
North Carolina at Minnesota | 8 p.m. | FOX
Murray State at No. 11 Missouri | 8 p.m. | SEC Network
North Dakota State at Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN
No. 22 Kansas vs. Lindenwood (in Kansas City, Kansas) | 8 p.m. | Big 12/ESPN+
Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State | 8 p.m. | CBSSN
Alcorn State at UAB | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
SE Louisiana at Tulane | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Northwestern State at Tulsa | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern State at South Dakota | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
North American University at Stephen F. Austin | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Colorado Mesa at Texas A&M-Kingsville | 8 p.m. | LSC Digital Network
Missouri Southern State at Midwestern State | 8 p.m. | FloSports/LSC Digital Network
Southern Utah at No. 12 Utah | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Illinois at Illinois | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Monmouth at Eastern Washington | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Sacramento State at San Jose State | 10 p.m. | truTV
Friday's Games
Lehigh at Army | 6 p.m. | CBSSN
Temple at No. 16 Oklahoma | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Florida Atlantic at Michigan State | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Colgate at Maine | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Elon at Duke | 7:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Western Michigan at Wisconsin | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network
TCU at Stanford | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Saturday's Games
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (in Atlanta, Georgia) | 12 p.m. | ABC
Virginia Tech vs. Vanderbilt (in Nashville, Tennessee) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Austin Peay at Louisville | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
Indiana State at Purdue | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Kent State at Pitt | 12 p.m. | ESPNU
Bucknell at Navy | 12 p.m. | CBSSN
UConn at Maryland | 12 p.m. | FS1
No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia | 12 p.m. | FOX
Davidson at Georgetown | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Chattanooga at No. 15 Tennessee | 12:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Upper Iowa at Butler | 1 p.m. | FloSports
Glenville State at Emory & Henry College | 1 p.m. | FloSports
South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Towson at Cincinnati | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Portland State at Washington State | 3 p.m. | CW Network
Edward Waters at Morehouse College | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 19 Miami (Fla.) at Florida | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Colorado State at No. 4 Texas | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Eastern Michigan at UMass | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida International at Indiana | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
East Tennessee State at Appalachian State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
North Dakota at Iowa State | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
Ohio at Syracuse | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Kennesaw State at UTSA | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Merrimack at Air Force | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN
UTEP at Nebraska | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
Western Illinois at Northern Illinois | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Akron at No. 2 Ohio State | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Boise State at Georgia Southern | 4 p.m. | ESPNU
Lincoln (CA) at Northern Arizona | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Old Dominion at South Carolina | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network
Stony Brook at Marshall | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
UC Davis at Cal | 5 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
North Texas at South Alabama | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Valparaiso at UNI | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Campbell at Liberty | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Richmond at Virginia | 6 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Norfolk State at East Carolina | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Samford at West Georgia | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
South Carolina State at Florida A&M | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Delaware State at Sacred Heart | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Mississippi Valley State at Tennessee State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
The Citadel at Charleston Southern | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Ave Maria University at Stetson | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Idaho State at Oregon State | 6:30 p.m. | CW Network
Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Furman at No. 6 Ole Miss | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Central Arkansas at Arkansas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Bethune-Cookman at South Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tarleton State at Baylor | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UNLV at Houston | 7 p.m. | FS1
UT Martin at No. 18 Kansas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tennessee Tech at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Sam Houston at Rice | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Nevada at Troy | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
North Alabama at Memphis | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Holy Cross at Rhode Island | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Northern Colorado at UIW | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Western New Mexico at UT Permian Basin | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Alabama A&M at Auburn | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
Idaho at No. 3 Oregon | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
UCLA at Hawai'i | 7:30 p.m. | CBS
Abilene Christian at Texas Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Miss at Kentucky | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Southern Illinois at BYU | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgia State at Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
Houston Christian at SMU | 8 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Grambling at Louisiana | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Nicholls at Louisiana Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
James Madison at Charlotte | 8 p.m. | ESPNU
Lamar at Texas State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas A&M-Commerce at San Diego State | 8 p.m. | truTV
Southern at McNeese | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Southeast Missouri State at New Mexico State | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Missouri State at Montana | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Montana State at Utah Tech | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
Wyoming at Arizona State | 10:30 p.m. | FS1
Weber State at Washington | 11 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Sunday's Games
North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State (in Miami Gardens, Fla.) | 3 p.m. | ESPN
Benedict College vs. Virginia State (in Canton, Ohio) | 4 p.m. | NFL Network
Tuskegee vs. Johnson C Smith (in Montgomery, Alabama) | 7 p.m. | ESPNU
No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU (in Las Vegas, Nevada) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
Monday's Game
Boston College at No. 10 Florida State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
