Three possible statement games for Alabama in Kalen DeBoer's first year
It is a new era of Alabama football in Tuscaloosa following the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban.
The seven-time champion head coach will now be working with ESPN instead of blowing up on the sidelines and throwing his headset, while his team is up by 35. The Tide didn't go with someone with SEC roots to replace him, but instead opted to go with someone who has a winning pedigree in former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer.
Whether it was at the NAIA level, Indiana, Fresno State, or in Seattle, DeBoer has thrived in every setting. Now that he is at Alabama, he is at the premier program in the premier conference with other notable programs gunning for that top spot while he looks to find his bearings.
He will have to learn quickly as the Tide have the No. 6 toughest schedule in the country, but there are plenty of opportunities for him to make a statement. Here are the three games that stand out as the best opportunity to make a statement that will capture the attention of the college football world.
Sep 5, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) scores a touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Week 3 @ Wisconsin
No one will say it, but meetings between the Big Ten and the SEC are going to mean a bit more these days. The two have established themselves as the premier conferences in college football, and are now fighting for supremacy all over again. The SEC has the edge already, but that doesn't mean the Big Ten won't try to change that narrative. This will be Alabama's first game away from Tuscaloosa under DeBoer, and the Badgers are looking to build off of a decent 7-6 season in Luke Fickell's first year on the job. If Alabama can go on the road and beat a tough opponent, everyone will see just how little of a drop-off there is.
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) cannot make a catch against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Trey Amos (9) in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
© Brett Davis-USA Today Sports
Week 5 vs Georgia
There's a chance that Wisconsin may be ranked somewhere in the teens or even twenties, but realistically Georgia will likely be the No. 1 team in the country. The Bulldogs were already gunning for the top spot in the SEC before Saban stepped away, and now they will surely see this as their chance to establish themselves as the top-dog program. If DeBoer and company can take down Georgia, the Tide would show that they aren't ready to give up that throne just yet. It will also serve as a nice barometer in terms of where this team stacks up against other elite teams.
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) runs upfield during the fourth quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Week 9 vs Missouri
While another statement game could easily be @ Tennessee or LSU, both teams are trotting out first-year starting quarterbacks. The Missouri Tigers on the other hand shocked college football last season with their 11-2 record, and are looking to make some noise in the SEC. Some analysts have already predicted that the Tide may get upset at home against the Tigers, so what better way to make a statement than to beat down on a team that thinks they are on the rise?
