In a rare turn of events, Alabama football lost a home opener back in 2001 to UCLA with a score of 20-17.
However, on Saturday, Alabama’s winning streak in openers continued as they defeated MTSU 56-7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, starting their 2023 season off on the right foot.
Jalen Milroe had an exceptional performance, becoming the first Alabama quarterback to throw for three touchdowns and run for two more in a single game. Nicholas Vattiato led the Blue Raiders with 127 passing yards and a touchdown.
Alabama (1-0) will host No. 12 Texas in their next game, while MTSU (0-1) will travel to Missouri.
Now, let’s delve into some of our key observations from the game.
Alabama football offense starts strong with Jalen Milroe, but falters later
Alabama made an impressive start by scoring on both of their drives in the first quarter. Milroe kicked off the scoring by scrambling for a 21-yard touchdown after recovering a bad snap. Later, Jace McClellan found the end zone for a 1-yard score, capping an 11-play drive.
The Crimson Tide’s momentum slowed down a bit in the second quarter. Milroe, however, managed to score again on Alabama’s fifth drive, this time with a 15-yard touchdown run. And on the first play of their next possession, Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond for a 47-yard touchdown pass, extending Alabama’s lead to 28-0.
The Battle of Quarterbacks
Prior to the game, coach Nick Saban openly spoke about the competition amongst Alabama quarterbacks for the starting position.
Although four quarterbacks were listed on the depth chart, Milroe was chosen as the starter. He had a remarkable performance, completing 13 of 18 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing for 48 yards and two more scores. Milroe only relinquished his position once the score reached 42-0 in the third quarter.
Tyler Buckner entered the game midway through the third quarter as Milroe’s replacement and orchestrated a scoring drive that ended with him rushing for a touchdown.
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Transfer Portal Pays Off
Alabama made great use of the transfer portal during the offseason. They acquired five transfer players, all of whom saw playing time in the game, with four of them even starting.
Offensively, CJ Dippre, from Maryland, was named a co-starter at tight end alongside Danny Lewis Jr. Lewis initially started, but Dippre entered the game soon after.
Trezemen Marshall, a transfer from Georgia, started as the middle linebacker. Jaylen Key, a sixth-year transfer from UAB, made his presence felt by intercepting MTSU late in the second quarter. Trey Amos from Louisiana also started at cornerback.
Buchner was the only transfer player who did not earn a starting position.
Anna Snyder is a writer covering high school sports and University of Alabama recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. You can reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2
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