The Crimson Tide in 2024 will have a new look on the sideline. The GOAT has called it a career and it was quite the illustrious career, particularly for 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, where championships are always attainable. Coach Saban finished his career at Alabama with 6 national titles and threw in another @ LSU in an earlier stop, and will now navigate the world of sports commentating for ESPN along with predicting, which is also a challenge. He left a lasting legacy at Alabama that may never be duplicated in the SEC or nationally, but the Tide will move on with new coach Kalen DeBoar from Washington, who’s had terrific success as a head coach. DeBoar will try to acclimate quickly to the challenges that the brutal SEC presents.

DeBoar has the great Jalen Milroe returning at quarterback with a solid backup in Ty Simpson. Milroe had a terrific season in 2023 and looks to enhance his legacy in 2024. He’ll have some nice pieces around him. Jam Miller, Justice Haynes, Richard Young and Daniel Hill form a formidable running back room. Really high on Miller and Haynes, and Young was a top recruit as was HIll. The Tide lost some wide receivers in the portal headlined by Isaiah Bond, who transferred to Texas, but still has some excellent options on the perimeter in Washington transfer Germie Bernard, who had a terrific spring game, along with returners Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice. There is some young talent behind those three. The offensive line will be anchored by left tackle Tyler Booker. Parker Brailsford has arrived in Tuscaloosa from Seattle as well, and will be in the middle of the trenches at center. He’s not a huge guy at 280, but has great quickness, smarts and toughness. Jaeden Roberts at right guard is another big, physical leader up ftont. CJ Dipper and Robbie Outzs are a couple of returners at tight end.

On defense, I like linebackers Deontae Lawson (Mike LB) and Jihaad Campbell (Will). On the back end, the great Malachi Moore is back and will lead the defense at free safety, and transfers Keon Sabb (Michigan, SS) and Domani Jackson (CB, USC) join freshman Zabien Brown (CB). Returner DeVonta Smith will man the Star position. I know DeBoar wishes he had the other Devonta back as well. He’s excelling for the Philadelphia Eagles now. He’s been gone for four years now. What a career that was in Tuscaloosa for the Heisman winner and he’s become elite in the National Football League.

Bernard is the starter at punt returner and he and Law are the kick returners. Graham “Jack” Nicholson will be the kicker and punter.

The schedule is intense, but that’s always the case in the SEC. The Tide opens vs Western Kentucky at 6 PM CT, Saturday, August 31, on ESPN. South Florida comes to Bryant-Denny on Saturday, 9/7, for a 6 PM kick which will also air on ESPN. Then the tide travels to Madison, Wisconsin to face the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, 9/14, with an 11 AM CT kickoff on FOX. Then “Dem Dawgs” come to Tuscaloosa for an epic confrontation. It’ll be Saturday, 9/24, at 6:30 PM CT on ABC. @Vandy, vs South Carolina, @ Tennessee, vs Missouri, @LSU (Saturday, 11/9, with a night kickoff possible, but not for sure), vs Mercer, @ Oklahoma, one of the two new members of the SEC along with Texas, and then Auburn @Bryant-Denny on Saturday, 11/30.

Jayden Proctor, the 6’7”, 360 pound mountain of a man, transferred to Iowa in the offseason for a cup of coffee, and then came back to Tuscaloosa. He’s listed as a backup right now at left tackle behind Booker. He’s going to have to work hard to regain the trust of his teammates and coaches. Unclear whether he’ll be a major factor this season. The 99, 5 star rating is there, but Booker is a veteran, who’s talented and hung in there when Coach Saban left; so Proctor has his work cut out for him to find a position up front.

I like the Crimson Tide to have another good season. Georgia and Auburn are @ home, but the Tide has to travel to LSU, Tennessee and Oklahoma and Madison won’t be a bargain. Missouri @ home is a lot more interesting as the Tigers won 11 games last season and defeated overrated Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. They finished No.8 in the country in the Final College Football Playoff rankings.

I don’t like to say how many games a team can win until they’re in the arena and playing games, but the Tide has the material to win 10 games. I would call that the over/under number. It could be 8 or 9. Ten and a playoff spot would be all they would need to get another shot at winning it all in the 12 team playoff.

DeBoar is 104-12 in his college coaching career. All of that is in South Dakota and on the west coast, so if he can adjust to the rigors of this conference, and recruit well, which he did in 2024 with the second ranked class, and he has the 3rd ranked class in 2025, he can be exceedingly successful in Tuscaloosa.