Alabama Football: Ranking the Hardest Games of the 2015 Schedule
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It’s not too early to look ahead to the 2015 season. It never is in Tuscaloosa.
Fans have been doing so since the last seconds ticked off the clock in New Orleans.
Unlike in previous years, this year’s schedule does the Crimson Tide few favors. Gone is the SEC East rotation of a down Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Vandy. This year, Alabama has to go to Athens, Georgia.
Tennessee is on the rise, and the SEC West is as brutal as ever.
Let’s look ahead to the slate and rank Alabama’s toughest games of 2015.
12. Charleston Southern, Nov. 21, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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We begin with the FCS contest, Alabama’s annual money game against a lower-division team in late November.
Last year, it was Western Carolina. Now, Alabama switches to a school from the other Carolina.
Don’t fool yourself. This game is nothing more than a tuneup for the Iron Bowl.
11. Louisiana-Monroe, Sept. 26, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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There isn’t much sizzle behind this matchup on the surface, but there will be at least a sliver of interest among Alabama fans.
The Crimson Tide will be out for revenge for a 21-14 loss in Nick Saban’s first season in 2007. It’s hard to see them struggling that much this time around.
10. Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 12, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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The first of Alabama’s three cupcakes should be its toughest, but that doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide will break much of a sweat.
There will be somewhat of a local angle, though. Middle Tennessee State quarterback Austin Grammer went to high school just a few minutes down the road at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa.
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9. Arkansas, Oct. 10, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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It speaks to the strength of Alabama’s schedule that Arkansas is its weakest SEC opponent.
The Crimson Tide struggled in Fayetteville last season, where a blocked extra point was ultimately the difference in the game.
While Bret Bielema’s team is on the rise, this game being in Tuscaloosa gives Alabama a nearly insurmountable edge.
8. Wisconsin, Sept. 5, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
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Alabama’s Power Five season opener this year presents it with its first regular season Big Ten opponent since Penn State in 2011.
The Badgers looked like they had LSU put away in last year’s AdvoCare Texas Kickoff before the Tigers mounted an epic comeback. Wisconsin also upset Auburn in the Outback Bowl to end the season.
Alabama can’t afford much of the first-game blues in Arlington.
7. Tennessee, Oct. 24, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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The third Saturday in October has lost some luster recently, but it should start to ramp back up somewhat as Butch Jones digs Tennessee out of its slump.
With Jones in his third year, the Volunteers have found their quarterback, will have some continuity on the offensive line and should have some weapons on offense. The defense will be a different story.
Like Arkansas, this game being in Tuscaloosa makes this a little easier.
6. Texas A&M, Oct. 17, Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
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Two years ago, this was arguably the most-hyped regular-season college football game ever. After an 8-5 season last year, the 2015 version of this budding rivalry won’t quite have that level of excitement.
Still, Kevin Sumlin’s offenses are always exciting, and with Alabama having to replace three safeties a year after it gave up the most passing yards under Saban, there is the chance for an upset.
And College Station can get rowdy, as Alabama found out two years ago.
5. Ole Miss, Sept. 19, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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This is the second revenge game on Alabama’s schedule, and this one should be a bit easier as it's in front of the home fans.
Two years ago, Alabama shut out the Rebels in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss will be with a first-year quarterback this time, JUCO transfer Chad Kelly.
Still, Hugh Freeze has Ole Miss playing stout defense, which will give them a chance to win every time out.
4. Mississippi State, Nov. 14, Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi
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Alabama was able to handle the Bulldogs fairly easily last year, handing them their first loss of the season. Having to go to Starkville won’t be near as easy.
Mississippi State will return most of the core of its team, which was able to rise to No. 1 in the country for the first time in school history in 2014. Starkville wasn’t kind to visitors last season, as the Bulldogs took down Texas A&M and Auburn.
Will this be the Crimson Tide’s second straight year with a loss in Mississippi?
3. LSU, Nov. 7, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
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Alabama-LSU has turned into one of the SEC’s best rivalries, at least lately.
Last year’s contest did not disappoint in Baton Rouge, but LSU hasn’t had a lot of success against Nick Saban in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Still, anything can happen when these two meet. A lot will happen between now and November. This game should be another epic clash.
2. Georgia, Oct. 3, Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia
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The days of Alabama’s cakewalk SEC East schedule are over. Goodbye maligned Florida at home. Hello dangerous Georgia on the road.
This will be one of the rowdiest atmospheres Alabama sees all year against a team hungry for a big win.
It also falls earlier in the schedule, the same weekend that the Crimson Tide lost a big road SEC game in 2014.
1. Auburn, Nov. 28, Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama
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Even though Alabama won a shootout in Bryant-Denny last year, the 2015 edition of the Iron Bowl will absolutely be played under the backdrop of the Kick Six.
The 2013 Iron Bowl in Auburn was one of the craziest games in college football history and possibly the greatest finish of all time. It showed that just about anything can happen in this rivalry in that stadium.
Gus Malzahn and the Tigers will be looking to rebound from a five-loss year in 2014 and will have a great opportunity to get back on top of this in-state rivalry.
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