No. 4 Alabama breaks in new starting quarterback against Middle Tennessee

Alabama head coach Nick Saban looks on between plays during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Alabama opens a season where it’s trying to return to the College Football Playoff after failing to make the Southeastern Conference championship game in 2022.

The starting quarterback will be Jalen Milroe, who gets the nod over Ty Simpson or Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.

It’s also a chance for the Crimson Tide to break in some other new starters before hosting No. 11 Texas. Middle Tennessee tries to build on last season’s closing four-game winning streak.

KEY MATCHUP

Milroe will have to work hard to avoid mistakes against a big-play defense. Middle Tennessee has ranked first or second in turnovers forced the past two seasons, including a combined 37 interceptions. On the flip side, coach Nick Saban and the Tide are hoping that aggressiveness opens up some big-play chances for the offense, too. It’s a group that includes receivers Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton and tailbacks Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Middle Tennessee: CB Teldrick Ross is eight defended passes shy of the school career record of 46, set by Cedric Stegall from 1995-98. Ross was second nationally with 22 passes defended last season.

Alabama: QB: With Milroe starting, Saban hasn’t dropped hints on how many QBs will play, but it’s a chance for whoever gets on the field to stake a claim on the job.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama, which has often opened with neutral-site games, has a 21-game winning streak in home openers. The Tide has won 20 straight at Bryant-Denny Stadium going back to 2019 and won 56 consecutive nonconference regular-season games. Middle Tennessee picked up its first win over a ranked opponent in 21 tries with last season’s 45-31 win over No. 25 Miami. … Middle Tennessee quarterbacks coach Brent Stockstill played that position the last time the Blue Raiders played Alabama in 2015. Wide receivers coach Shane Tucker was a running back on that team. … The Blue Raiders are coming off back-to-back bowl wins for the first time in school history.

The game is at 6:30PM CDT from Bryant-Denny Stadium on the SEC Network.

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