ESPN analyst names Alabama's 'season-defining' game for 2023
After a disappointing season that saw the Crimson Tide finish 11-2 with losses to Tennessee and Auburn, Alabama will be out for blood this year. But, they’ll need to make it through the usual SEC gauntlet of teams, as well as possibly face the two-time defending national champions to return to their usual form.
According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Alabama’s ‘season-defining’ game won’t be a matchup with Georgia, but rather Tennessee. Here’s part of Low’s explanation:
The Tennessee game, in particular, looms large for Alabama. Beating the Vols would give the Tide an extra week with the bye to complete the sweep over Tennessee and LSU. Plus, nobody in crimson has forgotten the wild, field-storming scene at Neyland Stadium last season after Tennessee’s winning field goal snapped Alabama’s 15-game winning streak in the series.
Alabama has a host of games to be played at Bryant-Denny this season, including Ole Miss who comes to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 23, Tennessee on Oct. 21, and LSU on Nov. 4. With a bye week scheduled between Tennessee and LSU, a win against the Vols would give Alabama an advantage before the Tigers march into town.
Alabama hasn’t forgotten the pain of losing to Tennessee and having a swarm of fans in orange storm the field after Tennessee’s game-winning field goal last season. The win was the first time the Vols defeated Alabama in 15 games. The Crimson Tide will be on the hunt, and look to be back to championship form headed into the season.
Alabama will kick off the season with Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2, 2023.
Alabama lost to Auburn in 2022? Huh?
Think you meant LSU…
Shhh. Looking for clicks.
And not one word on how they plan to, “get back to championship form”, when we don’t even know the starting QB is. Milroe whom lacks passing ability anywhere close to what BY was and Simpson is a newbie. All under the guise of an OC who has only two years experience as an OC and none of it in the SEC. New DC as well. I’m not sure that’s a recipe for Bama to get back to their former national championship form. At least not this year.
We know who Tennessee’s QB is though. Uh Oh
Dawgs2021…Oh yes that Vol Quarterback has a cannon for an arm. Look he just threw it into the 4th row !
@ AFan
This reminds me of a story about strong-armed QB Doug Williams, back in the day.
Before a big game in which Doug Williams was QBing and Johnny Unitas was a color-commentator, a fellow commentator said to Johnny U, “You’ve got to come see this. Doug Williams is outside his hotel throwing a football all the way up to the 6th floor”.
To which Johnny U replied, “But his receivers are staying on the 4th floor”.
Either or is the answer. The secret isn’t the QB, its the offensive scheme. You either can run it or you can’t. Nico or Milton should suffice. Hooker wasn’t even a pro-style pocket passer style QB. And Heupel’s offense has had 99% passer as opposed to dual-style QB’s. Hooker just got way better at passing and did the job well even if he wasn’t a pro-style. If Milton can’t be elite, there is Nico. Moore could start and technically, he was the backup. Walk on but been in the system for years. The good thing about the Tempo Spread is you know pretty quick in games if they can do it or not. But from what we’ve seen of Milton, the last few games. Looks very encouraging.
Agreed. And Tennessee can’t. 27-13
gwhite…the secret isn’t the QB ? So you really think that Bazooka Joe could have propelled the Vols to a record of 11-2 last year ? In the Clemson game those DB’s are ACC quality, not SEC quality.
The QB often looks as good as his receivers make him. Bryce Young was as good or better in 2022 than he was in his 2021 Heisman campaign. But he didn’t have Metchie or Williams in 2022 so his numbers were not nearly as good. It seems to me than Milton (or whoever) will not approach Hooker’s 2022 numbers because the receivers won’t be as good.
It isn’t the type of offense – it’s who you have to make it go. Many of the top teams in the 2023 SEC will have a lot of questions to answer. Those questions often will be answered by players who either were not there or were role players last year.
Alabama replaces players and coaches every year nothing new
You lost two games last year changing nothing from the year before. You almost lost a few more. I’d say that’s new. You having a two year OC experienced is something new too..lol Wouldn’t ya say? No BY, no elite passer yet on the team established. So it looks like Ty or bust.
Changed nothing from the year before? Metchie and Williams weren’t nothing. Mother F ucker are you stupid or just flat out f ucking retard ed? Either way just STFU!
coach saban has replaced over 50 coaches and assistants at Alabama and 41 1st round draft picks, and won 6 national championships in the process of all that one thing is consistent Nick is head coach and the goat he knows who to hire and who to recruit
Auburn? Don’t you mean LSU?
Lost to Auburn Ginny? Sounds like somebody got a writing assignment from ESPN and did not bother to do proper research in the haste to meet a deadline. Enjoy the egg on your face.
Yeah, I saw that, was pretty sure y’all won the Iron Bowl, too. Who knew Aubie won?
I loved the “Alabama hasn’t forgotten the pain of losing to Tennessee and having a swarm of fans in orange storm the field” part either…and I bet that girl that Jermaine Burton KO’d hasn’t forgotten the pain either…
She probably forgot sooner than the family of the GA football player killed by a GA staffer in a UGA car while driving drunk. Still care to throw barbs there Mr. Leg?
Would be nice if LSU provided Bama with consecutive losses and consecutive 2 loss season.
Then again, it would be nice to give them their first loss.
Well, if there is a year for them to lose two games, this might be it. A lot of changes at Bama and no clear cut answers. Bama is only as good as their coordinators. Saban is a good game managing coach but you he needs the coordinators to get him there. Saban must see something in Reese I’m missing. Barely 30 and only two years OC experience total and outside the SEC. This is a far cry from what he usually hires. Unless he’s planning on running the ball all season or throwing way less.
when you are elite 2 losses are disappointing. When you are Tennessee it is a great season. You can do the Math on that one little fella
Dawgs2021…Again you have won the Coveted Award for “Best Post of the Day” Trophy on order.
I can’t wait to see what Milton does with all this rat poison. :)
it will involve footballs landing in the stands
Throwing the football 10 feet over the receivers is one thing. In the Clemson game he slowed down the velocity of the long balls(to avoid the overthrows) but those ACC DB’s did not have any picks. Sec Db’s would have eaten up those slower-arriving long balls.
Might want to check Saban’s record in revenge games.