Alabama started the 2020 football season with an impressive first half Saturday night. The Crimson Tide dominated early, building a 28-3 halftime lead, before cruising to a 38-19 victory over the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri.
The offense was led by Quarterback Mac Jones who went 18 of 24 for 249 yards. Jones connected early and often with the electrifying Jaylen Waddle who led the Tide with eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Devonta Smith added eight catches for 89 yards.
Najee Harris powered the Bama running game with 17 carries for 98 yards and three touchdowns.
Alabama finished with 414 yards of total offense.
The Crimson Tide defense seems to be much-improved after a disappointing 2019 campaign. It was great to see Dylan Moses back on the field leading from the Mike linebacker position. It’s clear that Moses still needs a few games under his belt before he will be totally back to his old ways. Moses finished with just four tackles, but influenced plays throughout the night, especially in the first half. Two of those tackles were for loses.
Junior Safety Daniel Wright led all 11 total tackles, all solo efforts.
Missouri is already a better team under first-year coach Eli Drinkwitz than they have been the last few years. There are some stars on defense. If quarterback Shawn Robinson can develop some consistency, the offense has the potential to catch fire. If that happens Missouri is going to challenge some of the higher-ranked teams in the SEC East and maybe even pull an upset along the way. Overall, they were a good first game test for an Alabama team looking to run through the 10-game SEC schedule.
Barring injury, there’s virtually no question who will be leading the Tide offense throughout the 2020 season. Mac Jones is the man. Five-Star Freshman Bryce Young made his debut in the third quarter in relief of Jones. He went 5 of 8 for 54 yards with one fumble. The youngster has an impressive arm and is a playmaker with his feet. His future is bright. But right now he looks like what he is – a talented freshman backup.
The Crimson Tide will host Texas A&M next Saturday at 2:30 PM at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be broadcast on CBS. The Aggies won Saturday, unimpressively beating the Vanderbilt Commodores by a score of 17-12.
Alabama Adds Top In State Athlete To 2025 Recruiting Class
Alabama Football Reels in Top Talent The Alabama Crimson Tide's recruiting momentum continues under Head Coach Kalen DeBoer. The team recently secured a commitment from in-state standout wide receiver Derick Smith. Smith's national ranking (51st overall, 6th WR) makes...
Three New Rules Expected for the 2024 College Football Season
Ahead of the 2024 college football season, three significant rule changes are anticipated. First, college football is poised to greenlight in-helmet communications for quarterbacks and coaches, alongside approving the use of tablets on the sidelines and in locker...
Eli Gold Speaks Out After Contract Not Renewed By Alabama
The news hit Alabama fans hard on Wednesday: Eli Gold, the legendary voice of Alabama football for 36 years, won't be calling games next season. Fans are reeling, with emotions ranging from disbelief to understanding, as the university's decision to part ways with...
Coach DeBoer On Keeping Alabama Staff Members
Alabama Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer was at Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, AL on Wednesday. Included in his comments to the media were thoughts about keeping previous coaches and support members on his staff. Kalen DeBoer on keeping Freddie Roach and Robert...
Kalen Deboer Speaks Highly of QB Austin Mack
In his initial move to shape the Alabama football roster, Head Coach Kalen DeBoer welcomed a familiar face to the quarterback position. Austin Mack, who served as a backup for DeBoer at Washington in the previous season decided to join his coach at Alabama. When...
Alabama Expected to Add Key Recruiter to Off-Field Staff
Alabama is poised to make a formidable addition to its off-filed staff team by securing the talents of Eron Hodges from TCU. He is anticipated to take on the role of associate director of player personnel. Hodges stands out as an exceptional off-the-field recruiter...
Previewing Alabama’s Offensive Coaching Staff Under Coach Kalen DeBoer
Let's take a look at Alabama's new offensive coaching staff under Head Coach Kalen DeBoer. Ryan Grubb - Offensive Coordinator Grubb has closely followed DeBoer's coaching trajectory, contributing significantly to the development of the Washington offense into one of...
Three Bama Standouts are Set to Shine at the 75th Annual Senior Bowl
Get ready to witness three Alabama stars showcasing their talents at the 75th Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. Let's take a look at each, including current draft prospects. Chris Braswell, EDGE Chris Braswell's 2023 season was a masterclass in transformation. Once a...
Coach DeBoer Recruits Current and Future Tide Players
Two weeks in, Coach Kalen DeBoer's whirlwind start in Tuscaloosa has had him recruiting not just future Tide players, but the current ones too. Following Nick Saban is no easy feat, and DeBoer's early days have been a masterclass in roster retention. On "The Dan...
Alabama Selects Kalen DeBoer to Lead Crimson Tide Football
The University of Alabama has a new face at the helm of its football program. Kalen DeBoer, the architect of Washington's meteoric rise, has been named the 28th head coach in Crimson Tide history, tasked with navigating the program into the post-Saban era. Alabama...
Thank You, Coach Saban
The day Alabama football fans have anticipated, and dreaded, has finally come. Nick Saban is retiring. Some 17 years and 7 days after he was originally announced as the Crimson Tide’s head man, the GOAT has officially left the building. But not before he restored the...
Alabama Falls To Michigan in Rose Bowl CFP Semifinal
On New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl, No. 4 Alabama fell to the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines by a score of 27-20 in overtime in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. The game was closely contested, with both teams displaying comparable performance across various...