Live Updates: Alabama 63, Western Kentucky 0; Final
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 5 Alabama will kick off the 2024 football season at home by playing host to Western Kentucky. The Crimson Tide and Hilltoppers will square off at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and the first game is set to kick off at 6:05 p.m. CT and broadcast live on ESPN.
Tonight’s season opener with WKU will be the first game of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama. DeBoer was hired on Jan. 12, 2024, two days after the retirement of former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Since the 1892 season when E.B. Beaumont led Alabama in its first official football game, first-year coaches own a 21-7 record in their inaugural contest.
Game links: WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
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PREGAME
— Alabama’s Week 1 depth chart was waiting for us in the press box.
— No sign of Jeremiah Alexander with the other ILBs. He was the only defensive player that Kalen DeBoer said was in question for today’s game.
— No more cast on Zabien Brown’s left hand. His wrist is pretty heavily taped, and his index and middle fingers are taped together. But no cast/club/etc.
— First OL through pregame drills: Kadyn Proctor, Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts and Wilkin Formby.
— Alabama wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. WKU will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
— Emmanuel Henderson is wearing No. 10 tonight. He and Keon Sabb are both in for the opening kick.
— A couple of young guys starting on defense. Qua Russaw starts at Wolf. Zabien Brown starts at CB.
— WKU’s headsets are not working. That means Alabama can’t use the in-helmet communication tonight.
— Que Robinson drops TJ Finley for a sack (-10 yards) on 3rd and 12, and WKU will punt from its own 31.
— No Kadyn Proctor on Alabama’s first offensive series. It’s Elijah Pritchett starting the game at LT.
— Kadyn Proctor is in street clothes with his left arm in a sling.
— Alabama’s starting WRs: Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law and Ryan Williams. Justice Haynes is at RB.
— Alabama offense goes three-and-out on its opening drive and will punt from its own 28-yard line.
— Keon Sabb comes up with an INT, and Alabama gets the ball back at Western Kentucky’s 16-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 7, WKU 0 (10:07)
— Jalen Milroe calls his own number and scores the first TD of the season (12 yards).
— Jaylen Mbakwe and Red Morgan on the field at CB and Husky for UA’s second defensive possession.
— Keon Sabb with his second INT of the first quarter. After a big return, UA will take over at the WKU 26.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 14, WKU 0 (5:01)
— Jalen Milroe finds Kendrick Law on the run, and the WR does the rest (22-yard score).
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 21, WKU 0 (2:27)
— Jalen Milroe looks deep for Ryan Williams, who hauls in his first college TD (84 yards).
— Ruh-roh. High snap sails over Jalen Milroe’s head and WKU recovers it. Tops take over at the Crimson Tide 20.
SECOND QUARTER
— Jihaad Campbell bats a pass back to TJ Finley and then records the TFL. WKU will attempt a field goal. It was no good.
— Jalen Milroe escapes the pocket for a 40-yard gain to midfield. After a defensive holding penalty, UA has it at the Hilltoppers’ 39-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 28, WKU 0 (12:35)
— Jam Miller rumbles free for a 39-yard rushing score.
— On 4th and 1 from its own 34, the Tops go for it, and TJ Finley moves the chains on a QB run up the gut.
— Kalen DeBoer’s inaugural game at Alabama is a sellout. Announced attendance: 100,077.
— WKU goes for it on fourth down a second time on the same drive. For the second time, it converts. Ball is now at the Alabama 38.
— On 4th and 5 at the UA 8, Finley is ruled short of the line to gain. Tide takes over at its own 5-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 35, WKU 0 (2:53)
— Justice Haynes rips off a long scoring run (85 yards).
— New QB for WKU. Caden Veltkamp is now in the game for the Tops.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 42, WKU 0 (1:30)
— Jalen Milroe hits Ryan Williams for their second score of the first half (55 yards).
THIRD QUARTER
— What a punt. James Burnip’s second punt of the night travels 54 yards and is fair-caught at the Western Kentucky 17.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 49, WKU 0 (6:30)
— Jalen Milroe with his second rushing TD of the night and fifth overall score (21 yards).
— Ty Simpson will check in at QB with 5:38 left to play in the 3Q. Final stat line for Jalen Milroe: 7-9 passing, 200 yards, 3 TDs; 10 carries, 79 yards, 2 TDs.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 56, WKU 0 (2:51)
— True freshman RB Daniel Hill crosses the goal line on carry No. 3 of the night (2 yards).
— Hell of a job picking up a blitz by Richard Young. But Ty Simpson’s pass is incomplete. Alabama will punt from its own 26-yard line.
FOURTH QUARTER
— Kevin Riley is in the game to start Alabama’s first drive of the 4Q. All five RBs have now played.
TOUCHDOWN: Alabama 63, WKU 0 (10:04)
— Ty Simpson keeps it for a 15-yard rushing score.
*** This post will be updated.
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