How to watch, listen to Alabama season opener vs. Western Kentucky
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will open the 2024 college football season tonight when it plays host to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide’s opener will mark the first game of head coach Kalen DeBoer’s career at Alabama.
“Just like everyone across the country and our fan base, our players are excited,” DeBoer said on Monday. “They’ve put a lot of work in. The thing I guess I’m most impressed with is just how they’ve sustained a high level of energy, not just the first week or the first two weeks. They’ve really sustained a high level of energy, focus all the way through camp.
“… They’re excited to play and excited to hit someone else. Really looking forward to this Saturday against a Western Kentucky team coached by Coach Helton. A lot of respect. I know our staff has a lot of respect, both sides of the ball, myself included.”
Today will mark the fourth time in series history that these two teams have met. The Crimson Tide currently holds a 3-0 advantage in the series with the last meeting coming on Sept. 10, 2016, in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer has never faced the Hilltoppers as a head coach. WKU’s Tyson Helton will also be facing Alabama for the first time as a head coach.
Since the 1892 season when E.B. Beaumont led the Crimson Tide in its first official football game, first-year head coaches own a 21-7 record in their inaugural game at Alabama.
Entering Saturday’s matchup with Western Kentucky, the Crimson Tide owns an 83-11-2 (.875) all-time record across 96 home-opening games. Alabama is riding a 22-game winning streak in the team’s first game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, dating back to 2001.
How to watch, listen and other key information
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Kickoff time: 6:05 p.m. CT
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Capacity: 100,077
Television: ESPN
– Play-by-play: Dave Pasch
– Analyst: Dusty Dvorarcek
– Sideline: Taylor McGregor
Watch ESPN link: WATCH
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
– Play-by-play: Chris Stewart
– Analyst: Tyler Watts
– Sideline: Damion Square
Satellite radio: CTSN on Sirius / XM 81
Varsity Network link: LISTEN
Series record: Alabama leads 3-0
Last meeting: Sept. 10, 2016
– Alabama 38, Western Kentucky 10
Point spread: Alabama -34.5
Stay tuned to BamaOnLine for complete coverage of Alabama’s season opener.
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