After opening the season in Tallahassee with a difficult non-conference test against Florida State, Alabama will return to the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium for a Week 2 cupcake with UL Monroe coming to town. While Florida State could provide a difficult test to start Kalen DeBoer’s second season, the Crimson Tide should roll to 2-0 against the Warhawks.
Bryant Vincent brought UL Monroe back to respectability at 5-7 in 2024, his first season, improving by three wins over Terry Bowden’s final year. However, the Warhawks were routed by their two Power Conference opponents. Texas pounded UL Monroe 51-3 in Week 4, and then in November, a middling Auburn team rolled 48-14.
Vincent’s team won’t threaten to pull an upset in Tuscaloosa, but they can prove a big problem to the Tide: complacency.
Alabama could be its own worst enemy in Week 2 against UL Monroe
While Ty Simpson has been at Alabama since 2022, assuming he wins a three-way quarterback battle with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, he’ll be the full-time starter for the first time. Regardless of who prevails in fall camp, DeBoer will be breaking in a new QB and looking to get him on the same page with an immensely talented wide receiver room headlined by Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard.
The Tide will roll in Week 2, but the biggest concern will be smoothing out the offense under Ryan Grubb after DeBoer’s longtime offensive coordinator joined him in Tuscaloosa following a one-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks.
With the talent of Williams, Bernard, and even Simpson, who has carried the expectations of a five-star pedigree throughout his career on the sidelines at Alabama, the Tide should score with ease against a defense that ranked 89th in total defense. However, if the offense isn’t fully in rhythm and relies so heavily on its stark talent advantage, Alabama can’t afford to be complacent heading into a matchup with Wisconsin and the SEC opener against Georgia in Week 5.
Jalen Milroe was such a unique quarterback that it forced DeBoer and last year’s offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan to abandon the traditional pro-style passing game that DeBoer thrived with at Washington with Michael Penix Jr. Now, Simpson will allow him to fully implement his system, and it better look pristine by the time Alabama heads to Athens in late September. So, Alabama can’t waste its opportunity for extra live reps against UL Monroe.