The Alabama Crimson Tide won back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012. Those championships were not foregone conclusions. Alabama needed important breaks to go its way in each of those two seasons. The Tide tried to win back-to-back national titles for a second time under head coach Nick Saban, and while Alabama came close in the 2016 season, which ended in January 2017, the dream died. Now Alabama will try to get back to the top of college football. The journey won’t be easy – it never is – but few teams have a better chance of lifting the trophy than the Tide. It is a usual way of prefacing each new college football season.
How Did They End 2016
Alabama did a lot of things in 2016 which closely resembled the Tide’s 2015 national championship season. Alabama comfortably defeated archival Auburn. The Tide handily defeated SEC East Division champion Florida in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Alabama won its College Football Playoff semifinal with a smothering defense. In the December 2015 Cotton Bowl, played on New Year’s Eve, Alabama shut out Michigan State. In the December 2015 Peach Bowl, played on New Year’s Eve, Alabama allowed only seven points to Washington. In January of 2016, Alabama played Clemson for the national championship. In January of 2017, Alabama played Clemson for the national championship. The difference? Alabama scored more than Clemson in the 2016 shootout. The 2017 game was one in which Alabama’s offense struggled just enough to give Clemson and Deshaun Watson the last meaningful possession.
Offseason Changes
For a brief while, it seemed that Steve Sarkisian would be the 2017 offensive coordinator. He replaced Lane Kiffin after the College Football Playoff semifinals and before the CFP National Championship Game against Clemson. However, he shocked everyone by taking the offensive coordinator job with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Nick Saban had to look for a new coordinator, and he chose Brian Daboll, who had worked with the New England Patriots as a position coach.
The Tide lose a number of star defensive players, especially behemoths Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams on their defensive line. Alabama will still find very good players on its 2017 defense, but depth might be a little more of a concern, given how great Allen and Williams were.
Team X-Factor
Jalen Hurts is the sophomore quarterback who needs to emerge from his offseason as a more polished thrower. Hurts can run like the wind, and it will be a headache for defenses to chase him down. However, if Hurts can’t throw better than he did in 2016, defenses will sit back and make him throw from the pocket. Hurts should develop this year, but if he doesn’t, the consequences could be big for Bama.
What To Expect From The Crimson Tide This Year
Alabama is Alabama. The Crimson Tide set the highest standard on a yearly basis in college football. If they don’t finish first, they typically finish very close to it. There should be no difference this year. It is extremely hard to fight past all that depth and skill.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 14-1
2015: 14-1
2014: 12-2
2013: 11-2
2012: 13-1
Schedule and Outlook
The Tide have a mega showdown in Week 1 against Florida State, but the schedule is rather tame after that. They’ll host Fresno State in Week 2, which should result in a beat down, and then host Colorado State in Week 3, which should net more of the same. Then they’ll go on the road to pummel Vanderbilt and then come home to face an Ole Miss squad with all sorts of issues. They only play four true road games, which is a cakewalk for a team like this. Yes, they will have to go to Auburn for the Iron Bowl but their other road games are at Vandy, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Those are all places where Alabama will be favored to win.
Auburn will mount a stiff challenge on the road, but as long as Alabama can split the games against Florida State and Auburn, it should go 11-1 or 12-1 and be in the playoff with a shot at the title. Go over the number here.
Season Total Wins Prediction: Over 10.5
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