Alabama Football: Kicking off the season with must-watch games

The new college football season is close enough to be defined as days away. Alabama Football does not open with its standard high-profile out-of-conference game at a neutral site. The Crimson Tide will bring an 11-win, 2021 team to Bryant-Denny. Alabama football fans will have to wait until week two for the Tide’s first big game of the season.

Along with the Tide versus a ‘not-bad’ Utah State team, there are several other early games of interest to Alabama football fans. A preview of those interesting games from Aug. 27 (week zero) through Sept. 5 is provided below.

Viewing Suggestions for Alabama Football Fans

August 27 Games

• Austin Peay at Western Kentucky (11:00 AM CST) – The Governors will come to Tuscaloosa in November, so an early look for Alabama football fans warrants some attention.
• Nebraska vs. Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland (11:30 AM CST) – Based on recent performance, the Irish crowd will see two bad football teams. The Cornhuskers and the Wildcats each won three games last season. Nebraska has not won more than five games in a season since 2016 when former Alabama football defensive back, Mike Riley was the head coach. But American football on the Emerald Isle is a must-watch anyway.
• UConn at Utah State (3:00 PM CST) – Crimson Tide fans will want to scout the Aggies
• Vanderbilt at Hawaii (9:30 PM CST) – Clark Lea and the Dores need every win possible and this might be one of few.

September 1 Games

• The Thursday slate does not have much. The Tennessee Vols host Ball State in what will be a blowout. Another night game features Louisiana Tech at Missouri. If the Tigers have trouble with La Tech, it will bode a hard season for Eli Drinkwitz.

September 3 Games

• Oregon vs. Georgia in Atlanta (2:30 PM CST) – The Dawgs are expected to be too much for the Ducks. Seeing the rebuilt Georgia defense in action will draw interest from Alabama football fans.
• Cincinnati at Arkansas (2:30 PM CST) – The Bearcats face a rebuilding year. Sam Pittman has had considerable turnover as well, but the Hogs will have a significant talent advantage. Crimson Tide fans will check in to see Drew Sanders’ debut for the Razorbacks.
• Utah at Florida (6:00 PM CST) – A tough challenge for the Gators will show if they can be an SEC East factor in Billy Napier’s first season.
• Alabama will host Utah State with a 6:30 PM CST time kickoff.
• Notre Dame at Ohio State (6:30 PM CST) – The game of the day in college football will immediately frame contender or pretender status for the teams.
• Vanderbilt (Elon), South Carolina (Georgia State), Texas (ULM), Mississippi State (Memphis), Auburn (Mercer), Kentucky (Miami-Ohio), Texas A&M ( Sam Houston State), Ole Miss (Troy) are also in action.

September 4 Game

• Florida State vs. LSU in New Orleans (6:30 PM CST) – If LSU has any trouble beating the Seminoles, Brian Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge could be disappointing.

The best source of game schedules and TV details for all CFB games is here.