ABOVE: University of Alabama receiver ArDarius Stewart makes a catch during practice. (Daniel Melograna/University of Alabama)

The countdown reaches zero this week as the long wait for college football comes to an end. But as the countdown concludes, the road to a potential national championship is just beginning.

Alabama will try to return to the College Football Playoff after falling to eventual national champion Ohio State in a semifinal game. The Crimson Tide, No. 3 in the Associated Press Poll, opens at 7 p.m. Saturday against No. 20 Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas.

Will Jake Coker win the starting job as University of Alabama’s quarterback? (Daniel Melograna/University of Alabama)

There is an Alabama mystery going into the AdvoCare Classic: Who’s starting at quarterback? Jake Coker, Cooper Bateman and Alec Morris appear to be the top contenders with Blake Barnett and David Cornwell in the running as well.

No. 6 Auburn has handed its offense to quarterback Jeremy Johnson and its defense to defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. The Tigers begin their campaign facing Bobby Petrino and Louisville at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta.

Auburn figures to have another powerful offense except Johnson is thought to bolster the passing game. Coach Gus Malzahn hopes Muschamp’s intensity yields an improved defensive unit.

Here’s the rest of this week’s slate:

OTHER STATE COLLEGES

Alabama A&M at Cincinnati: The Bulldogs travel to the Queen City for a 6 p.m. Saturday meeting with the Bearcats. Their aim is to improve on their 4-8 season of 2014 with an eye toward making a run at the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

Alabama State at Tennessee State: Brian Jenkins spent the past several months visiting with Hornets alumni and supporters. Sunday, the former Bethune-Cookman coach will lead Alabama State into a 6 p.m. game at Tennessee State. The Hornets hope to improve of their 7-5 record of last season.

Birmingham-Southern at LaGrange: Coach Eddie Garfinkle is looking for some help on the Hilltop as his Panthers try to rebound from a 3-7 2014 campaign despite having said goodbye to 25 departed seniors. The first step comes at 5 p.m. Saturday at LaGrange.

Central Arkansas at Samford: The Bulldogs have Chris Hatcher in charge after years of following former Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan. The Hatcher era begins with a home game at 6 tonight against Central Arkansas.

Clark Atlanta at Tuskegee: The Golden Tigers want to get back to the Division II playoffs but they would like to go farther than the first round as they did the past two seasons. The first step comes at 1 p.m. Saturday against their rivals from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

Gardner-Webb at South Alabama: The Jaguars host the Runnin’ Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Saturday as they seek an encore to their first bowl appearance in 2014. Quarterback Cody Clements, receiver D.J. Vinson and tight end Gerald Everett are among seven former UAB players who are now in Mobile.

Troy at North Carolina State: There’s a new man at the helm for the Trojans with Neal Brown taking over for Larry Blakeney, who retired last season. Troy will try to improve of the 3-9 season of 2014, beginning with a 5 p.m. Central game Saturday.

University of West Alabama hosts Stillman College this week. (University of West Alabama)

Jacksonville State at Chattanooga: The Gamecocks have carried the banner of the Ohio Valley Conference, winning the league under coach Bill Clark in 2013 and then John Grass in 2014. Jax State’s second season with Grass at the helm will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at Chattanooga.

North Alabama vs. Miles: The Golden Bears bring back the Labor Day Golden Classic, opening their season with a 6 p.m. Sunday meeting with the Lions at Legion Field. North Alabama returns 56 lettermen and 15 starters from a 2014 team that went 9-2, won a share of the Gulf South Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Miles hopes this year to win its second Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the past three years.

Stillman at West Alabama: The biggest football news in Livingston came when former Tiger Malcolm Butler saved the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots with his goal line interception. The 2014 West Alabama team was 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Gulf South Conference. Stillman was also 5-6 last season, which included a 44-20 loss to West Alabama. The two teams of Tigers square off in Livingston at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Concordia at Warner: The Hornets have won just one game each of the past two seasons. Their first step toward improvement comes at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Louisiana College at Huntingdon: The Hawks were a high scoring squad a season ago. They hope similar production is on display at 1 p.m. Saturday in Montgomery.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Class 7A: Region 2 features a clash of top 10 teams in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association poll. No. 3 Central-Phenix City is at Auburn, which is tied for 10th.

Class 6A: Decatur is 0-2 but the Red Raiders came up just short last week as they fell 32-31 to Bob Jones. Friday, they host their in-town rival Austin (1-1) in the Region 8 opener for both teams.

Class 5A: Springville at Moody is a meeting of St. Clair County rivals. Moody comes in 1-0 after escaping Hamilton 38-35; Springville is 0-1 with a 24-17 loss to Sylacauga.

Class 4A: Cordova hosts Curry in their 78th gridiron meeting. According to Alabama High School Football Historical Society, Cordova (2-0) leads the series 56-17-4.

Class 3A: When most high school football players renew acquaintances on the field, they are usually facing players who were on the other side of the field when last they met. When Hale County travels to Greensboro, some opposing players were teammates last season. Hale County and Greensboro each got students from Sunshine and Akron, which each closed because of declining enrollment. Sunshine students are now at Greensboro; Akron students are split between Greensboro and Hale County.

Class 2A: No. 6 Ranburne faces rival Randolph County in a Region 5 opener for a pair of 1-0 teams. Randolph County was among teams also getting votes in this week’s poll.

Class 1A: No. 4 Cedar Bluff plays at No. 5 Spring Garden. It is the Region 7 opener for both teams.

AISA: Monroe Academy, No. 2 in the Alabama Independent School Association, hosts Pike Liberal, ranked No. 6 in this week’s poll.