NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) celebrates with wide receiver Cole Adams (7) after scoring a touchdown against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama Crimson Tide started their 2024 campaign emphatically with a 63-0 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday.
With even Nick Saban in attendance, everyone was eager to see how the Tide would look in game one of the Kalen DeBoer era. The answer: Alabama looked strong in all three phases of the game outgaining Western Kentucky 145 yards to 600. QB Jalen Milroe, last year’s highest-returning Heisman vote-getter, showed why he will be in contention for the award again this year with five total touchdowns and just shy of 300 all-purpose yards.
Beating Western Kentucky probably isn’t enough for the Tide to make significant moves in the Coaches or AP Polls this week, but Alabama more than passed the eye test. In fact, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) ranks the Tide as the second-best team in the country behind only the Georgia Bulldogs. The Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions round out the top five.
The Crimson Tide will be back in Tuscaloosa this weekend for another primetime 6:00 p.m. kickoff as they host the 1-0 USF Bulls. We all remember the disaster that was last year’s matchup, but I expect Alabama to handle their business this year. The Crimson Tide enters this year contest as a massive 31-point favorite per ESPN BET.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-football-climbs-no-2-183546757.html
Author : Roll Tide Wire
Publish date : 2024-09-03 18:35:46
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
