2012 Alabama Football Schedule: Nick Saban and Crimson Tide Are Doomed Next Year

The 2012 Southeastern Conference schedule was released on Wednesday, and the rigorous stretch of games the Alabama Crimson Tide must go through next season will prove to be too difficult.

Nicka Saban will be losing too much talent next year, and even though he continues to bring in top recruiting classes, not having the experienced stars will hurt Alabama in 2012.

That, along with an intimidating schedule, is why the Crimson Tide are doomed next year. 

Good-Bye Talent

Key players—such as safety Mark Barron, wide receivers Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks, tight end Brad Smelley, linebacker Courtney Upshaw, defensive back DeQuan Menzie and defensive lineman Josh Chapman—will all be graduating this year. 

Plus, top players like running back Trent Richardson, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick could all leave early for the NFL. All three would likely be first-round picks, so it's doubtful any of them return. 

Of course, the result of the BCS title game against LSU could have an impact on their decision, but even still, Alabama's schedule is too daunting next season for the Crimson Tide to return to BCS glory with or without those three. 

Grueling Schedule 

Alabama kicks off the season against a surging Michigan Wolverines team with loads of speed and talent. The game will be played a on a neutral site in Cowboys Stadium, so there will be no home-field advantage factor. 

After that, the Crimson Tide will find it difficult to battle the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road next year. The Razorbacks will be much improved, and the return of Knile Davis makes them serious contenders for the BCS title next year. 

A few easy games follow that and then Alabama gets a bye on October 6, right before it plays the newcomer of the SEC, the Missouri Tigers. 

While some will be quick to bash Missouri, the Tigers are going to be better than most expect. Missouri returns some very skilled players on offense, and since it's another road test for the Crimson Tide, the Tigers certainly have what it takes to get a victory. 

The bye will help, but the game against the Tigers is just the beginning of a horrid stretch games that Alabama will succumb to. 

The Crimson Tide must travel to Tennessee and LSU, as well as host Texas A&M and Auburn. Those are all potential losses if Alabama isn't fully prepared. 

Sure, Saban will have his team ready, but the talent and experience the Crimson Tide have shown this year will be gone. That will hurt them in 2012. 

Moving Forward

I don't think they'll actually lose all four of those games, but the possibility is there and should be accounted for. I do think Alabama will fall to Arkansas early in the year, putting them in a bind in the SEC West race. 

LSU is going to be unstoppable again next season, and even better on both sides of the ball. Tennessee will be scary with Tyler Bray, Da'Rick Rodgers and Justin Hunter if they all manage to stay healthy.

Texas A&M will be transitioning, but running back Christine Michael is a dangerous threat that could easily stick it a new-look Crimson Tide defense. 

Auburn will be far better in 2012 than it was this season. The young talent the Tigers have will continue to get stronger, and Michael Dyer will be back and better than ever next year, ready to taste victory again in the greatest rivalry in college football, Iron Bowl. 

A.J. McCarron hasn't shown he can take the Crimson Tide to the next level, and since he'll be without a number of weapons that made him look better this year, Alabama is in for a rough ride next season. 

Don't expect great things from Alabama in 2012; its schedule will be to tough to get through after the Crimson Tide lose all their top talent.