5 bold predictions for Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama ahead of 2024 college football season
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is gearing up for his first season in charge of the Crimson Tide as the 2024 college football season is just weeks away. DeBoer will be under an immense amount of pressure to replicate the success that Alabama has had in recent seasons under Nick Saban.
Alabama begins their 2024 campaign on Saturday, August 31, on the road against Western Kentucky. With a new head coach in place, and armed with a formidable roster, the team will look to have even more success.
5 bold predictions for Alabama ahead of the 2024 college football season
Jalen Milroe will be a Heisman Trophy finalist
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will return for his fourth season with the Crimson Tide in 2024, and his second season as the full-time starter. Milroe was impressive during the 2023 season, especially down the stretch in Alabama's run to the College Football Playoff.
Milroe finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting last season after throwing for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns. He added another 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground to rank fifth in the SEC in total yards.
Milroe is set as an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this upcoming season, along with fellow SEC quarterbacks Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers, and Jaxson Dart.
Germie Bernard will have a breakout season
Wide receiver Germie Bernard has followed his head coach from Washington to Tuscaloosa and will join the Crimson Tide receiving core in 2024. Bernard put up a solid 419 yards receiving and four total touchdowns last season with the Huskies, but was mostly overshadowed due to the outstanding play of All-American Rome Odunze.
With Odunze on his way to the NFL, and Bernard joining early Heisman candidate Jalen Milore, it puts him on pace to have a breakout season and emerge as a top target for the Crimson Tide.
They will not make the SEC championship game
The competition in the SEC will continue to intensify in 2024, with both Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference. The expansion, along with the conference opting to do away with divisions, could work against the Crimson Tide.
SEC foe Georgia are considered early title favorites, while Texas made an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season, making them a legitimate contender. Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Oklahoma will also be among the formidable conference opponents that could make a return to the SEC championship a difficult task for the Crimson Tide.
Malachi Moore will be among the top safeties in the SEC
Strong safety Malachi Moore returns for his fifth season with the Crimson Tide in 2024 as one of the most experienced players on the roster. Moore earned a starting spot as a freshman in 2020 and went on to earn second-team All-SEC honors.
Moore has made 52 appearances for the Crimson Tide in his career. He has tallied 144 total tackles, 17 passes defended, and five interceptions through four seasons.
They will lose two regular season games
The Crimson Tide will begin their 2024 season with Western Kentucky and South Florida. Their regular season quickly heats up as they travel to Wisconsin to face the Badgers in week three, followed by an SEC championship rematch at home against Georiga.
Georgia is expected to hand the Crimson Tide their first loss of the season before they go on to face Vanderbilt and South Carolina. They will then face Tennessee, Missouri, and LSU in a span of four weeks — all opponents who could give the Crimson Tide trouble. They then close out their regular season against Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn.
With the fierce SEC competition they'll face this season, the Crimson Tide could lose at least two regular season games. Two losses in the regular season could mean that Alabama misses out on the SEC championship game, which could also keep them out of the College Football Playoff.
What do you think the Crimson Tide's record will be this season? Let us know your predictions in the comment section.
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