USU Football preview: No. 1 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama Football finished last season 13-2 and fell in the national championship game to Georgia despite beating the Bulldogs by 17 in the SEC title game. With three titles in six national championship appearances, the Tide are going to be as dominant as they have been in the last 15 seasons — it will just be with some different faces.
Alabama sent 10 players to the draft last season, with six going in the first round. Almost 20% of first-round selections played at Alabama.
Despite losing star wide receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie to the NFL draft, Alabama reloaded at wideout with Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton and Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell.
The reigning Heisman winner and projected No.1 overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young, is the starting quarterback for the Tide. He threw for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns and had an 87.6 QBR rating last season. Each of those stats ranked second in the country in 2021.
Utah native and Olympus High School graduate, tight end Cameron Latu, is doubtful for today’s game.
The stars of the Crimson Tide defense are linebackers Will Anderson Jr, and Henry To’oTo’o. They combined for 212 tackles last season which was 22% of the team’s total tackles. Anderson led the team in sacks with 17.5 which led the country.
Alabama is expected to be competing for the SEC Championship for the seventh time in nine seasons. They’ve won the title in each game they’ve played in. They’re also looking for their 15th consecutive season with 10 or more wins.
Coming into the season, Alabama was voted No. 1 in the AP poll receiving 54 of 63 first-place votes. Utah State will play the No. 1 overall team for the third time in program history and the first time since 1984.
Simply put, Alabama is one of the top programs in the country and they are favorites to win the National Championship again in the 2022-23 season. However, that doesn’t mean they’re taking the Aggies lightly.
“Utah State and Blake Anderson have done a really good job there. This team can play really in any conference and do well,” head coach Nick Saban said about the Aggies. “They were one of the most effective passing teams in the country a year ago.”
When one of the greatest coaches in college football history gives praise to your program, the value of playing theirs becomes even more significant.
This will be the Aggies’ only scheduled Power Five opponent and it’s against what some may say is the best football program in college football history. Xavier Williams, an Aggie WR, is a former Alabama player and will get a shot at his former team today in Tuscaloosa at 5:30 p.m. MST. Fans can listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 or watch the broadcast on the SEC Network.
Featured image by Bailey Rigby.