Football is here for Alabama fans.
After a long offseason, the Crimson Tide now pursues national championship No. 19 in its history.
Coach Nick Saban is going after his eighth national title, seventh at Alabama, in his coaching tenure. Some Tide fans and national media are overlooking Utah State, but Saban stated Thursday on “Hey Coach” that the focus should be on one game at a time.
RELATED: A breakdown of freshmen starters, Alabama’s offense and defense for Utah State
SEC Network has the call for Saturday’s matchup at 6:30 p.m. CT from Bryant-Denny Stadium for the opener. People expect Alabama to run the table and win a College Football Playoff National Championship this season. Tide fans want to see improvement in several areas, including the offensive line, and they will get the first look in Tuscaloosa.
Utah State will toss different looks to offset or expose the Tide, but Alabama’s three keys to victory are below.
1. Alabama’s OL must show it has improved
Nick Saban replaced Doug Marrone with Eric Wolford after a tumultuous season from the offensive line in 2021. Alabama allowed 39 sacks of Bryce Young and could not run the ball like it wanted to. The Tide had offensive skill players to achieve success, but it came despite the offensive front. Wolford brings a different mentality, and players have bought into his mindset.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
