EXPECTATIONS
What else? A national championship. The Crimson Tide’s dominance in the Nick Saban era has never been more profound, as their 13-0 run to last season’s national title has been followed by them receiving 63 of 65 first-place votes in this year’s preseason USA Today coaches poll despite losing 10 players in the NFL draft, including six first-round selections. Quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris, receiver DeVonta Smith, center Landon Dickerson and left tackle Alex Leatherwood earned national awards at their positions last year, with Smith becoming the first receiver since 1991 to win the Heisman Trophy. This year, a lot of defensive hardware could await, as Alabama is stacked with DJ Dale, Phidarian Mathis and LaBryan Ray up front, Will Anderson, Christian Harris and Tennessee transfer Henry To’o To’o at linebacker, and with Jordan Battle, Josh Jobe and Malachi Moore heading the secondary.
CONCERNS
Alabama’s new offensive components must come together quickly against a schedule that includes next Saturday’s opener against Miami in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a Sept. 18 trip to Florida. Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Jones have provided an amazing run of efficiency at quarterback, and sophomore Bryce Young likely will keep that stretch intact despite being a little less proven at the college level heading into his first full season as the starter. Brian Robinson is using the extra year of eligibility allotted by the NCAA and returns a lot of experience at running back, though he is not nearly as dynamic as Harris. Center Chris Owens is also using the extra year to help negate the losses of Dickerson and Leatherwood, but the clear star of the line is new left tackle Evan Neal, who at a gargantuan 6-foot-7 and 345 pounds is actually 15 pounds lighter than a year ago and is one of the most athletic linemen in the country.
WHAT’S NEW