The Alabama Crimson Tide will always be king of the SEC. Head coach Nick Saban won his sixth national championship in Tuscaloosa after the school's most prolific Tide offense ever rolled everyone, including Notre Dame and Ohio State, last season.
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The 2020 season was one to remember for Alabama diehards. Wide receiver Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy. Quarterback Mac Jones gave him a run for his money, too. Even running back Najee Harris finished in the top five in voting.
Still feels like yesterday! 🏆#RollTide pic.twitter.com/7YRYfpfncb
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 19, 2021
Looking forward, Saban and the Crimson Tide must reload as their weapons depart for the NFL. All eyes are on Bryce Young to take over as the new face of college football. He still has playmakers like John Metchie at his disposal.
A new coaching staff consisting of former NFL head coaches Bill O'Brien and Doug Marrone will take some time getting used to as well.
On top of a new team and different coaches, Saban reeled in not only the No. 1 recruiting class in 2021 but Alabama's best crop of all time. That means 2021 and beyond could spell even more domination.
Last year, Alabama played an entire 10-game regular season schedule featuring only conference opponents during the coronavirus pandemic. That included SEC East teams like Kentucky and Missouri. Still, that didn't stop Alabama from pummeling teams week in and week out on ESPN and CBS.
Alabama's 2021 slate features our beloved non-conference cupcake teams like Mercer, Southern Miss, New Mexico State and even Miami (yeah, ACC fans, I called the Hurricanes a cupcake team). The SEC schedule is slightly more daunting on the road.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟵
🗓️: https://t.co/RQcksGRZVB#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/aZf7VPCFzt
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 27, 2021
'Bama will travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators in September. Saban's squad will also have to travel to College Station and Starkville to take on Texas A&M and Mississippi State, respectively, in October. At the end of November is everyone's favorite: an Iron Bowl matchup against Auburn in The Plains.
That doesn't mean Crimson Tide fans don't get some thrillers at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2021. After opening with Miami in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Alabama has home dates with Mercer, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, New Mexico State and Arkansas. This might look like a tough schedule for an SEC team, but no schedule is too tough for Alabama.
You can expect the Crimson crew to show face in December's SEC Championship again against a team like the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators or even South Carolina Gamecocks.
After that? Alabama's NCAA season could once again end in playing Clemson in the playoffs. But the 2021 campaign for another national title begins on September 4 in Atlanta.
Alabama Football Schedule 2021
Sept. 4: Miami (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sept. 11: MERCER (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 18: at Florida* (Gainesville, Fla.)
Sept. 25: SOUTHERN MISS (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 2: OLE MISS* (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 9: at Texas A&M* (College Station, Tex.)
Oct. 16: at Mississippi State* (Starkville, Miss.)
Oct. 23: TENNESSEE* (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 6: LSU* (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 13: NEW MEXICO STATE (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 20: ARKANSAS* (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 27: at Auburn* (Auburn, Ala.)
Dec. 4: SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, Ga.)
* — Denotes conference games
ALL CAPS — Denotes home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
