Alabama Football’s New Era: What to Know About the Season Opener Against Western Kentucky

Alabama football is starting a new chapter this Saturday. The Crimson Tide will face Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium, marking the first game under new head coach Kalen DeBoer after Nick Saban retired in January.

This will be the first time Alabama has played against the Hilltoppers since 2016, a game Alabama won 38-10.

Alabama is heavily favored to win on Saturday, with odds showing a more than 30-point advantage. In the four previous games between Alabama and Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers have only scored a total of 17 points.

Despite the odds, fans are eager to see how DeBoer’s first game unfolds. The game will kick off at 6:05 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

What to Know About Western Kentucky:

The Offensive Strategy:
Western Kentucky has made good use of the transfer portal in recent years. This strategy became well-known in 2021 when the Hilltoppers brought in many players from Houston Baptist's offense, including standout quarterback Bailey Zappe.

Zappe set NCAA records while playing in an offense designed by Zach Kittley, who is now the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech. After Zappe left, Austin Reed, a transfer from West Florida, continued the team's high-scoring offensive style.

In 2024, Western Kentucky is expected to keep playing aggressive, offense-focused football. However, with Alabama's strong defense, they may face a tough challenge in the season opener. For Alabama's new and untested secondary, Western Kentucky’s offensive style could be a good first test.

The Quarterback:
Most of the Western Kentucky players haven’t faced Alabama before, but their starting quarterback, TJ Finley, is an exception.

This will be Finley’s third time playing against Alabama. He started his career at LSU and then played for Auburn, where he nearly led his team to a win in the 2021 Iron Bowl before Alabama’s Bryce Young made a game-winning drive.

After leaving the SEC, Finley transferred to Texas State and helped his team defeat South Alabama, led by Alabama’s current defensive coordinator, Kane Wommack.

Finley won the starting quarterback job at Western Kentucky after transferring in, beating out returning quarterback Caden Veldkamp. However, head coach Tyson Helton mentioned in an interview that both quarterbacks might get playing time.

The Head Coach:
Tyson Helton has been with Western Kentucky since 2019, coming from his previous role as offensive coordinator at Tennessee. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Western Kentucky, where he helped lead the team to a Conference USA title in 2015.

Helton has a strong offensive background and has helped rebuild the Western Kentucky program after it struggled following the departure of head coach Jeff Brohm. He has connections with several members of Alabama’s coaching staff, having worked with UA tight ends coach Bryan Ellis and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard at Western Kentucky.

Helton also has ties to Alabama, having coached at UAB from 2007 to 2012. He played his college football at Houston, where his father, Kim Helton, was the head coach. His brother, Clay Helton, is currently the head coach at Georgia Southern.