Football preview: Crimson Tide takes on the Hilltoppers as Auburn hosts Malzahn’s former team
There’s no telling who will play quarterback for Alabama and Auburn this week. Coach Nick Saban likely isn’t saying after starting redshirt freshman Blake Barnett and then going with true freshman Jalen Hurts on the third series of the Tide’s 52-6 victory over then-No. 20 Southern Cal.
“I made a decision for this game that whatever we did at quarterback was for now. … We made a decision today for now. That’s the only decision we made,” Saban told the Associated Press. “So I’m not speculating on what we’re going to do in the future.”
Top-ranked Alabama plays its home opener Saturday, welcoming Western Kentucky to Bryant-Denny Stadium at 2:30 p.m. in a game that can be seen on ESPN2.
Across the state, Auburn entertains Arkansas State at 6:30 Saturday night in a game that can be seen on the SEC Network. The Tigers are coming off a 19-13 loss to No. 2 Clemson. That was a game in which coach Gus Malzahn switched among Sean White, Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III, sometimes within a single series.
“We were going to give (Clemson) a lot to think about,” Malzahn told media this week. “We weren’t as successful as I thought we’d be, but that was the plan. We’re moving forward with Sean White and bringing along John Franklin.”
South Alabama pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the opening weekend of major college football with its 21-20 upset of Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference. The Jaguars will celebrate Parents’ Weekend with a 6 p.m. Saturday contest with Georgia Southern in a game that can be seen on American Sports Network.
OTHER STATE SCHOOLS
Samford at Central Arkansas: Think the Bulldogs used up their scoring for a few weeks with their season-opening 77-7 victory over Mars Hill? Coach Chris Hatcher certainly hopes not with a 6 p.m. Saturday trip to Conway, Arkansas, to face a Central Arkansas team that outscored Houston Baptist 56-13 last week.
Jacksonville State at LSU: The 2015 runner-up in the Football Championship Subdivision kicked off 2016 by knocking off longtime state rival North Alabama 31-12. At 6:30 Saturday on ESPNU, the Gamecocks will face one of Alabama’s SEC West rivals, which lost 16-14 to Wisconsin on opening weekend.
Valdosta State at North Alabama: The Lions open their Gulf South Conference schedule at 6 p.m. in Florence Stadium. They earned a share of the league crown in 2015.
Tuskegee vs. Albany State: In Phenix City, the Golden Tigers will try to notch their second Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at 4 p.m. in the White Water Classic.
West Georgia at Miles: The Golden Bears spotted Fort Valley State a 21-0 lead Sunday in the Labor Day Golden Classic at Legion Field before coming back to score the next 34 points for their opening victory. Coach Reginald Ruffin said his team must be better in its first on-campus game at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Wolves reached the national semifinals in 2015. “If we’re going to compete, we can’t play like we played tonight,” Ruffin said after the opener.
Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State: A week after falling 55-0 to Middle Tennessee, the Bulldogs are again on the road, seeking their first win of 2016. Kickoff of this Southwestern Athletic Conference game is at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Alabama State at Alcorn State: Kickoff of this SWAC contest is 6 p.m. Saturday. The Hornets are 0-1 after losing 26-13 to Texas-San Antonio.
West Alabama at Stephen F. Austin: The Tigers kicked off 2016 by narrowly losing 24-23 to North Greenville. Saturday’s 6 p.m. game can be seen on ESPN3.
Troy at Clemson: The Trojans whipped Austin Peay 57-17 in their opener. Now Troy steps up to face the Tigers, who topped Auburn 19-13 last week. Kickoff is at 11:30 a.m. and can be seen on the ACC Network.
Birmingham-Southern at Huntingdon: The BSC Panthers couldn’t find an answer at home last week as they lost 47-27 to LaGrange. The Hawks outlasted Louisiana College 52-49. Kickoff Saturday on Charles Lee Field at Samford Stadium is at 6 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOLS
7A: Hoover visits Spain Park Friday night in the next episode of a crosstown rivalry that took a notable turn last season. After having never beaten Hoover on the football field, the Jaguars stopped the Bucs in the regular season and the postseason in 2015.
6A: Officially, Pelham and Helena have never met. The Panthers and Huskies will play for the first time since the Helena school zone was carved from the Pelham zone. The Huskies are at home.
5A: Briarwood travels to Wenonah in the first meeting between what are now region rivals. The Dragons are 2-0 and the Lions are 1-1.
4A: Madison Academy (1-1) is at 3-0 Randolph in a game that may be much better than many think.
3A: Wicksburg visits Opp in a game that features quarterbacks who each had more than 400 yards of total offense last week. Opp senior Orlando Lacey totaled 582 yards and accounted for six touchdowns to beat Straughn 55-32. He was 16 of 19 passing for 297 yards and three touchdowns and had 19 carries for 285 yards and three scores. Wicksburg’s Tucker Driskell passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 64 and a TD to finish with 347 total yards in a 41-33 loss at Daleville.
2A: Fayetteville at LaFayette features what may be the state’s best quarterback in LaFayette’s Jartavious Whitlow.
1A: Addison travels to Sumiton Christian for what has become a big game for two teams dropping from 2A to 1A.
AISA: Morgan Academy (2-1) is at 2-1 Monroe Academy, which is ranked No. 3 among AISA teams in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.