In two days No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State will square off in the highest-ranked opener in college football history. Here is everything you need to know about the must-see matchup:
The box
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida State
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. CT
TV: ABC
On the call: Chris Fowler | Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit
Radio: Sirius: Channel 80 | XM: Channel 80
Line: -7 Alabama, O/U set at 49
How well will Hurts perform?
A new and improved offense starts with a new and improved quarterback. That’s what Alabama believes it has in Jalen Hurts as he heads into his second season. The reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year appeared to make strides in his downfield passing this preseason, putting together a solid performance during Alabama’s A-Day game.
Earlier this week, Alabama head coach Nick Saban credited first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for his work with the quarterbacks and said he has noticed an improvement in both accuracy and decision making in the passing game. Hurts said he has matured under Daboll and that he expects to improve on a freshman season that saw him throw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
“You can tell he’s got presence about him, commanding the offense,” Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams said. “I wouldn’t say much has changed. He’s the type of guy that’s going to make plays, whether that’s with his feet or throwing the ball, so we’re always kind of prepared for whatever may happen. But he’s done a good job.”
Diggs first big test at cornerback
Hurts won’t be the only Alabama sophomore tested Saturday night. The opener will also mark Trevon Diggs first start at cornerback.
Diggs, 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, made the switch from wide receiver to cornerback this spring. Despite going through early growing pains, the sophomore has shown improvement over the fall, locking up a starting spot on the left side opposite to Anthony Averett.
Like Averett last year, Diggs will most likely be picked on early in the season as teams view him as the weakest link in a stacked secondary. While Saban is confident the athletic sophomore is up to the challenge, Diggs will be given somewhat of a short leash for mistakes Saturday night. Former walk-on Levi Wallace has also seen time with the first team during practice and will provide insurance off the sidelines if Diggs falters.
“I think Trevon has worked really, really hard to improve, pay attention to detail, improve his techniques, improve his understanding of the defense,” Saban said. “I think this is one of those situations where we have confidence in a player but until a player goes out there and gets confidence himself in terms of what he does, that's what I'm talking about. Is he well prepared? Is he going to go out there and be able to execute in the game, stay focused, look at the right things, key the right things, have the right eye control, put himself in the right position?”
Will the kicking game haunt Alabama?
Alabama fans are usually confident every time punter JK Scott steps onto the field. After all, the senior is one of the best in the nation at his position, averaging 47.19 yards per punt last season. However, depending on the situation, Scott’s appearance on the field Saturday might bring about some nerves to the Crimson Tide faithful.
Scott is one of three potential kickers Alabama could line up for field goals during the opener. According to the depth chart provided by the team on Monday, the senior sits behind walk-on Andy Pappanastos and true freshman Joseph Bulovas. Although, last week Saban talked about the possibility of using Scott as a long-range kicker while letting the other two kickers focus on shorter kicks.
“We haven’t really decided which direction that we’ll go at this point,” Saban said last week. “JK is in the mix to do field goals and kickoffs. There’s competition with the other guys to see who the most consistent guy is to do the regular field-goal kicking.”
Scott made three of his four field goal attempts during A-Day, connecting from 37 yards, 20 yards and 30 yards out while missing from 45 yards out. His 30-yard field goal came on the final play of the game to secure a 27-24 win for the Crimson team.
Pappanastos wasn’t as fortunate on the afternoon, missing both his attempts from 31 yards and 38 yards respectively. Bulovas enrolled at Alabama over the summer as the No. 1 kicker in the 2017 class but was reportedly inconsistent at times during preseason camp.
How they stack up
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Interesting stats heading in
Dome sweet dome
Alabama is 24-7 (.758) all-time in domed stadiums, including a 15-2 (.882) mark since 2009 and is 16-4 (.800) in Nick Saban’s tenure. The Tide was 3-0 indoors in 2016. Under Nick Saban, Alabama has played in seven season opening games in a domed stadium, the Crimson Tide is a perfect 7-0.
Opening day success
Alabama has been dominating in season openers under Head Coach Nick Saban. The Tide is a perfect 10-0 under Saban and has won in impressive fashion. Alabama has outscored opponents 411-120 in those games and averaged 41.1 points per game in opening contests and allowed just 12.0. Alabama also averages 444.3-yards per game in openers under Saban and has allowed an average of just 196.3-yards per game.
When ranked No. 1
Since the ninth game of the 2008 season (116-games), Alabama has played in 50-games while being ranked No. 1, posting a record of 44-6 (.880) during that span. Against Top 25 teams, Alabama is 48-13 including a 25-7 mark against Top 10 teams since the start of the 2008 season.
Returning defense for Alabama
The 2017 season Alabama defense includes six starters from a season ago. Those six return a combined career 462-total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 16 interceptions to this year’s team. Of those starters, for come from the Tide secondary, including Minkah Fitzpatrick, who recorded 66 tackles and six interceptions during the 2016 season. Fitzpatrick holds the school record for career interception returns for touchdowns with four. Ronnie Harrison leads all returners with 85 tackles from a season ago.
Offensive notes
- Alabama is 91-5 (.948) since the start of the 2008 season when rushing for at least 140-yards.
- The Crimson Tide offense has scored in 213 consecutive games, the longest streak in program history.
- Receiver Calvin Ridley is currently fourth all-time at Alabama in most career receptions with 161. The leader is Amari Cooper who caught for 228 receptions from 2012-2014.
- Alabama’s running backs on the roster ran for a combined 2,494-yards with 17 touchdowns. Damien Harris led the team in rushing last year rushing for 1,037-yards, Quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose yards are not including ran for 954-yards with 13 touchdowns last season.
Nick Saban vs. former assistants
Nick Saban is 10-0 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at Alabama. Florida State Jimbo Fisher was Saban’s offensive coordinator at LSU from 2002-2006.
— From Alabama Athletics
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They said it
Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick comparing Nick Saban to Jimbo Fisher
Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton returning from injury
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts on his confidence heading into the opener
Predictions
Alabama 31, Florida State 20
Atlanta has been very kind to Alabama in recent years, and while the Crimson Tide will be in a different venue it will drive back home down I-20 with the same familiar result. Look for Alabama’s running game to set the tone early and allow Jalen Hurts to hit the Seminoles for a couple big plays. — Tony Tsoukalas
Alabama 35, Florida State 17
Long sustaining drives combined with turnovers put a lot of points on the board for Alabama. The Crimson Tide running game hasn't been talked about all week, they'll headline all publications on Sunday. — Kyle Henderson
Alabama 34, Florida State 24
This game will feature several explosive plays throughout the night. The stars will shine, and it will feel like a heavyweight bout. Alabama will pull away in the end with a dominant ground game and a suffocating defensive front. — Andrew Bone
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More Coverage from this week
Wednesday, August 30
Five questions heading into Alabama vs. Florida State
Tuesday, August 29
Why the key to FSU is keeping Deondre Francois on the ground
Podcast: Saban and Fisher talk week 1 matchup
Family, Florida State on Jalen Hurts' mind heading into opener
Tuesday Scoop, intel from Tuscaloosa
Video: Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher
Monday, August 28
Video: Practice Highlights from Monday
Video: Saban Press Conference/Player
Video: Jimbo Fisher's Monday Press Conference
Video: Jalen Hurts Interview
Video: Bradley Bozeman Interview
Video: Minkah Fitzpatrick Interview
Video: Shaun Dion Hamilton Interview
The 3-2-1- It’s Florida State Week for No.1 Alabama
Sunday, August 27
Tony's Take: Alabama vs. FSU a matchup of two heavyweights
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