Way-too-early 2024 Alabama regular season record prediction
This fall will bring a variety of new to the Alabama football program as head coach Kalen DeBoer officially takes over along with his revamped coaching staff.
A lot of new will be coming to the entirety of the sport as well as conference realignment sets in with Oklahoma and Texas entering the SEC, the dissolution of the PAC-12, and the beginning of the 12-team playoff era.
There are no more divisions in the SEC so the Crimson Tide no longer have to worry about winning the SEC West, their full focus will just be on having a top-two record in the conference to advance to the SEC title game.
Without further ado here is the way too early prediction for DeBoer's first regular season at the helm of the greatest program in the sport.
Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK
In just 64 days, the Kalen DeBoer era will begin in Bryant-Denny Stadium with a 6:30 Central Time kickoff against Conference USA's Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
The Hilltoppers finished 2023 8-5 with a 38-35 victory over Old Dominion in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl, but their most lopsided loss came at the hands of Ohio State 63-10.
It may be close for a quarter as Alabama works out some kinks, but the offensive line will begin to dominate, and there is just too much talent for Western Kentucky to hang around any longer.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
This is a get-back game for the Crimson Tide. Jalen Milroe was benched, Kadyn Proctor couldn't block an undersized linebacker, and Alabama simply got embarrassed on national television when they struggled to a 17-3 win in Tampa last fall.
Milroe will have a chip on his shoulder this game along with the offensive line as they will light it up on the offensive side.
Ty Simpson and maybe even Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack could get some action late in the fourth quarter of the Crimson Tide's second straight blowout win.
It will be a good test for Alabama's defense to contain the Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown who combined for over 4,000 total yards through the air and on the ground and 37 total touchdowns last season.
Because of Brown, South Florida will put up some points but nowhere near enough
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
This is the early season test on the road that is essential to preparing for the SEC slate ahead.
Madison will be rocking with Big Noon Kickoff on site, but Luke Fickell is just in year two with the Badgers after taking Cincinnati all the way to the playoff.
Tyler Van Dyke has transferred in from Miami which provides leadership, experience, and a solid building block for this Wisconsin offense.
This will be a physical game, but Kalen DeBoer will outskill the Badgers on the perimeter with Milroe, Justice Haynes, and Kobe Prentice to run by Wisconsin.
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Here! We! Go! The biggest regular season game of the year comes in just week four and there couldn't be more storylines involved.
Is this finally Kirby Smart's time to end his Alabama kryptonite? Is the SEC finally Georgia's? Or does Alabama just keep on rocking and rolling under a new head coach?
This will be one of the most-watched games all season, but the Crimson Tide repeat what they did in the SEC championship with Jalen Milroe making some dazzling plays, the offensive line beefing up, and the defense causing Carson Beck some trouble.
Bryant-Denny Stadium might collapse with how packed and absurd this crowd is going to be.
© Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Hey, at least it is at Vandy. That has to give them a shot right?
Yeah, right.
Vanderbilt is far and away the worst team in the SEC and possibly the worst team in the Power Four.
However, the Crimson Tide will be working off the high of the Georgia game so it'll be a slow first half with Alabama leading just 17-0 after 30 minutes.
Alabama Athletics
Dominance just can't continue week after week and with Tennessee on the docket the following week this is the game Alabama sleepwalks through.
A 10-7 score seems reasonable at the half before the Crimson Tide pull away for a two-touchdown victory before the third Saturday in October.
Caitie McMekin / USA Today Network
Oh, Rocky Top, you will never be home sweet home for the Crimson Tide, but this is just the stumble the Crimson Tide is ultimately destined to have.
Nico Iamaleava is going to captivate the college football world and Josh Heupel will have this offense humming like it was two years ago.
The difference between that team and this team is this one has a much more veteran and sustainable defense.
EDGE Tyler Baron is a projected top-10 pick who will get after Jalen Milroe and force a turnover to end the game.
Not sure whether the goalpost will be thrown in the river again, but Alabama will walk out winless nonetheless
Alabama Athletics
No time to rest for Alabama following the loss to Tennessee with Missouri coming into town.
Tigers quarterback Brady Cook returns for another year and star wide receiver Luther Burden III is also still there.
This will be a dog fight but Alabama wrestles one away from the teeth of the Tigers.
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
This is the greatest scene in the sport. Death Valley at night against Alabama.
And the Crimson Tide is ready.
They learn from the road loss to the Vols and come out with a vengeance against LSU.
Garrett Nussmeier isn't Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers isn't walking out of that tunnel, and that defense isn't any better.
Milroe is going to feast again while DeBoer displays his whits.
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The notorious middle of November cupcake game in the SEC brings the Mercer Bears to Tuscaloosa.
This is exactly what the Crimson Tide needs sandwiched between road trips to Death Valley and Norman, Oklahoma.
The first-teamers cook early which opens up the floodgates for the backups to get some reps in the second half.
© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
This is by far the toughest game to predict on the schedule with just so many unknowns.
Alabama has played in Norman just one time back in 2002 which makes this so unpredictable along with the uncertainty of how the Sooners are going to hold up under an SEC schedule.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold could burst onto the scene as Oklahoma owns one of the best-receiving cores in the country, but the Crimson Tide makes a few more plays late to escape.
John Reed / USA Today Sports
This rivalry is always different depending on where it is played. Auburn lost to New Mexico State and followed that up by nearly beating the Crimson Tide had it not been for the catch in the picture.
However, Kalen DeBoer begins the rivalry by wiping the floor with the Tigers 35-14 to finish the regular season undefeated at home.
Final Record Prediction: 11-1
A 11-1 record would likely place Alabama in the SEC title game which could pit the Crimson Tide against the Bulldogs for the second time this season. If Alabama wins that championship game, they would finish 12-1 and earn a bye in the 12-team playoff and likely No. 1 overall seed. An 11-2 record with losses in Knoxville and in the SEC championship game would likely receive an at-large bid along with a 11-1 regular season.