Sports Illustrated USA – August 12, 2019

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

1