TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) -- Week 1 of the 2024-25 college football season is officially here and a new era of Alabama football kicks off Saturday.
Alabama takes on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Bryant-Denny Stadium to begin the season. The Crimson Tide begin the season ranked No. 5, it’s the first time Bama has been ranked outside the top four to begin the season since 2009. Bama lost a ton of players to the transfer portal, but they're bringing back a ton of key veterans who will look to help make a run towards the new 12-team playoff.
Bama finished last season 12-2 and won the SEC Championship after defeating Georgia, 27-24. It was an impressive season for the Crimson Tide in what may go down as one of Nick Saban's best coaching jobs. They were defeated by Texas in Week 2, 34-24 and after an ugly win against USF, 17-3, many predicted a down year for the Tide. They went on to make a run to the College Football Playoff where they were defeated by Michigan in the Rose Bowl, 27-20 in overtime.
DeBoer begins his first year with the Crimson Tide after coming from Washington. During his two seasons with the Huskies, he led them to a record of 25-3 and a national championship appearance last season against Michigan. He has an overall record of 104-12 during his coaching tenure, but now comes to the SEC which will prove to be his most difficult test.
Western Kentucky comes into the 2024 season looking to build off of last season's success. They finished the year 8-5 and won its bowl game against Old Dominion, 38-35. The Hilltoppers added veteran quarterback and familiar foe TJ Finley through the transfer portal in the offseason.
Kick off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN. Here's what to look for in the Week 1 matchup:
How will the Alabama secondary look?
- The secondary has been the biggest question mark regarding this years Alabama team. Bama lost starting cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry to the 2024 NFL Draft. They brought in two experienced corners through the transfer portal with Domani Jackson from USC and DaShawn Jones from Wake Forest, but after that, the Tide's corners feature highly touted freshman such as Zabien Brown, Zavier Mincey and Jaylen Mbakwe.
TJ Finley faces Bama once again
- Finley is no stranger to playing against the Crimson Tide. Finley faced the Tide as LSU' starting quarterback in 2020 in which the Tide won 55-17. He then faced the Crimson Tide again as the starting quarterback for Auburn in the 2021 Iron Bowl which went to four overtimes, the Crimson Tide ultimately won, 24-22.
- Since their last meeting Finley made another stop at Texas State. He now looks to lead the Hilltoppers into Bryant-Denny and pull off a monstrous upset.
New look Bama offense
- DeBoer looks to bring his high-powered offense to the SEC where defense is key. Under DeBoer last season, the Huskies averaged 36 points per game and had one of the most explosive offenses in the country with Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze.
- The Alabama offense will have one of the best deep ball throwers in the country with Jalen Milroe, a two-headed monster in the backfield with Justice Haynes and Jam Miller, and speed on the outside with receivers Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams.