72
The Alabama
offensive line that
was dominated
by Clemson in
the national
championship
game will have a
much different
look to start 2019:
Three starters are
in the NFL, and
junior guard Deonte
Brown, who was
suspended during
the playoff, will sit
out the season’s
first four games.
Alex Leatherwood
moves from guard
to left tackle but
the key contributor
could turn out
be Evan Neal, a
6' 7", 360-pound
five-star recruit
from the ’19 class
who’s versatility
has impressed: The
behemoth could be
a factor at guard
or fill in at tackle.
Neal’s emergence
will bolster the
Tide’s ground game,
led by junior running
back NAJEE HARRIS
who had 783 yards
and four TDs
last year.
X-FACTOR
2019
SCHEDULE
THE BIG STORY The Crimson
Tide made their fifth
consecutive playoff last season,
and yet they begin this campaign
with something to prove after a
44–16 loss to Clemson in the title
game. The defeat led to changes
in Tuscaloosa: Coach Nick Saban
overhauled his staff, bringing in
seven new coaches. One thing that
hasn’t changed: QB Tua Tagovailoa
is still under center. The Heisman
finalist shredded the Crimson Tide
record book last season, and with
a trio of all-conference receivers
returning, Tagovailoa is poised to
put up even bigger numbers than
he did in 2018.
CAN’T MISS One reason
Tagovailoa won’t see a
drop-off in performance: 6' 1",
190-pound wideout Jerry Jeudy
returns. The junior is a speedy,
tightrope-walking, glue-handed
freak. Jeudy caught a touchdown
on every fifth reception last
season and averaged nearly
20 yards per catch. There may
not be a more dynamic playmaker
in the country.
KEY QUESTION The Tide has lost
a whopping 12 starters to the
NFL over the last two seasons.
With all those losses, can the Tide
defense continue its dominance? For
this inexperienced unit it all begins
with senior end Raekwon Davis—
Bama needs a big season from
the future first-rounder.
KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
DUKE
SEPT. 7
NEW MEXICO
STATE
SEPT. 14
@ SOUTH
CAROLINA
SEPT. 21
SOUTHERN MISS
SEPT. 28
OLE MISS
OCT. 12
@ TEXAS A&M (13)
OCT. 19
TENNESSEE
OCT. 26
ARKANSAS
NOV. 9
LSU (8)
NOV. 16
@ MISSISSIPPI
STATE (20)
NOV. 23
WESTERN CAROLINA
NOV. 30
@ AUBURN (17)
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
15
14–1 (NATIONAL CHAM
PS)
14–1 (SEC CHAM
PS)
13–1 (NATIONAL CHAM
PS)
14–1 (SEC CHAM
PS)
12– 0
WINS
Clemson may stake a claim
as the top program in the
country today, but only one
team has made the CFP
in all five years since its
inception: Alabama. The
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* Tide are still the standard.
*SI PROJECTION
5 -YEAR TREND
11.5
The last time Alabama
won fewer than 12
games? Back in 2013. The Tide
should be double-digit favorites
in every game this season, even
against LSU at home.
OVER OR UNDER FRO
M LEFT: GREG N
ELSO
N; KEVIN D. LILES
Alabama