With the Alabama Crimson Tide entering a new era under a new coaching staff led by former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Tide want to maintain their status as an annual national title contender into the 2024 college football season.
Alabama’s 2023 season ended in a stunning Rose Bowl loss to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines, 27-20 in overtime.
Can Alabama maintain its top spot in college football after iconic head coach Nick Saban retires this offseason? Will it take a step back in its first year under DeBoer?
According to BETMGM’s online sportsbook, Alabama has the fifth-best chance of winning the 2025 College Football Playoff at +1400.
The following five programs could potentially threaten the Crimson Tide’s revival in 2024:
Wisconsin Badgers
Alabama’s first true test will come against the Badgers, who will provide a rare early season clash for the Tide. On September 14, the Badgers will meet the Crimson Tide at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The game will air on Fox at 12:00 (ET).
Although Wisconsin is still retooling under second-year head coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers remain dangerous, particularly in front of a rowdy Camp Randall crowd.
This matchup will also give the Tide with opportunities for development as they prepare for a bye week in Week 4.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs may be the Tide’s biggest test this season, as they return to Tuscaloosa looking to avenge their 27-24 loss in the 2023 SEC Championship Game.
Georgia will have one of the most talented rosters in the country, as well as a much more potent backfield, thanks to offseason transfer running back Travis Etienne, who joined the program from Florida.
On September 28, at 7:30 p.m. (ET), ABC will broadcast the game against Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Fortunately for the Tide, this game will follow the previously mentioned Week 4 bye.
LSU Tigers
The Tigers will undoubtedly put the Tide to the test later in the season when they face them at Tiger Memorial Stadium.
Brian Kelly appears to have learned out the lay of the land in the SEC following Jayden Daniels’ 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, and the Tigers will pose a test to Alabama’s secondary against LSU’s passing assault.
The game against LSU will be played on November 9, with a kickoff time and broadcast network still to be announced.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners, who will compete in their first season as an SEC member in 2024, will be one of the Crimson Tide’s final regular season challenges when they travel to Norman.
The Sooners’ strong defense and passing attack could put Alabama’s secondary corps to the test once more.
The game between the Tide and Sooners will be played on November 23, with a kickoff time and broadcast network still to be announced.
Traditionally, the last game before the Iron Bowl is a non-conference game, but with the inclusion of Oklahoma and the Texas Longhorns, the non-conference game will be played a week earlier.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are not on the Tide’s regular season schedule, but they still pose a threat since they might meet in the postseason, whether in a bowl game or the 2025 College Football Playoff.
If the Buckeyes faced Alabama in the playoffs, they would be perhaps the most difficult challenge for the Tide at practically every position due to their star-studded lineup.
Time will tell if any of the teams listed above will pose a danger to coach DeBoer’s Crimson Tide in the 2024 season, but they should not be ignored because the sport’s unpredictable nature is what makes it so great.
