The 2024 college football season features several games for the Alabama Crimson Tide that will attract national attention. Whether it’s an interesting clash, a historic rivalry or an important game with College Football Playoffs implications, fans across the country will be interested in Alabama’s upcoming season.
One of the biggest signs that any game is causing national intrigue is when the ESPN College GameDay crew comes to town. For the Crimson Tide, hosting College GameDay will be especially interesting because of the recent addition to the program of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who will serve as an analyst on the program’s panel.
Recently, Ben Kenney of Badgers Yarn ride a week-by-week projection where College GameDay could broadcast from. Three different Alabama games were mentioned in various locations.
Alabama in Wisconsin
Kenney includes the Crimson Tide in his Week 3 projection for the first time, when Alabama goes on the road to face the Wisconsin Badgers in Big Ten country, Madison, Wisconsin.
“The Week 3 schedule is admittedly a little light. Alabama at Wisconsin would face Oregon at Oregon State and Colorado at Colorado State.
“Alabama and Wisconsin are an easy choice. It’s Kalen DeBoer’s first big game as Alabama coach, on the road, in a tough place to play, against a Luke Fickell-led Wisconsin program in desperate need of a signature win.
This game is between two Power Conference opponents and does not necessarily carry substantial weight in the College Football Playoff race, but it is Kalen DeBoer’s first test as head coach of the Crimson Tide as they are not a Group of Five team and will be their first game. away from home for the season.
Alabama vs. Georgia
The week immediately following Alabama’s road game against Wisconsin is a home matchup against Kirby Smart and the elite Georgia Bulldogs. Smart vs. Saban is a thing of the past and fans will be interested to see how these two powerful programs mesh without Saban behind the scenes.
“This matchup loses some luster if the Crimson Tide loses at Wisconsin and shows real signs of weakness. Otherwise, it’s a potential SEC championship preview between the two major sports programs.”
DeBoer did an excellent job with the Washington Huskies, which should mean he has a great chance against Georgia because he’s not a rookie when it comes to high-profile, high-stakes games. This meets all the requirements of a game that will have national interest.
Alabama at LSU
A late-season showdown between Alabama and LSU Tigers has DeBoer coaching in this rivalry game on the road. A scary environment between two teams that have a good chance of being in the thick of the College Football Playoff race at the end of 2024.
LSU and Alabama may have legitimate SEC title and College Football Playoff hopes heading into this matchup. If so, this rivalry matchup is always a good bet to host the show.
If both teams suffer early losses, I would look at Florida State at Notre Dame or Georgia at Ole Miss.
As Kenney mentions, this projection is dependent on the performance of both teams. If both are on the rise, with strong records and impressive CFP resumes, then College GameDay might feel compelled to broadcast from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, if one, or both, of these teams stumble at any point before this competition, then there are alternatives that may be of more interest.
Ultimately, participating in a game that features ESPN’s College GameDay does nothing to increase the program’s strength or the team’s chances of making the College Football Playoff, but it is associated with national success and intrigue.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.
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