Alabama's Toughest Schedule Ever Will Make or Break the Tide in 2015

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — One of things that appeals to many prospects who end up playing football for the University of Alabama is the chance to play in numerous high-profile games like Saturday’s season opener against Wisconsin.

It’s one of the few Week 1 matchups of ranked teams, No. 3 vs. No. 20, according to the preseason Associated Press Poll. It will be played in arguably football’s finest venue, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and in the brightest of spotlights thanks to the ABC/ESPN media conglomerate.

One has to wonder, though, if Alabama had known how the rest of its 2015 schedule would look like, if it might have passed on this game.

Probably not. Nick Saban has always preferred to face a high-profile opponent outside of the eight-game league schedule—the next three being Southern California, Florida State and Louisville—and there are too many rewards to be gained.

“We've liked the neutral-site games, the quality of opponents that we're able to play, the focus that the players have on playing a big game the first game,” Saban said. “I think the exposure that the program gets on a national level playing in these kind of games are all important factors.”

So is the sizable payout of $4 million along with nice recruiting bump. While the Cotton Bowl is always interested in hosting Alabama, the last visit was the 2012 opener when it dismembered Michigan 41-14. This time it returns with numerous players from the Lone Star State including quarterback Alec Morris, defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson and defensive backs Tony Brown, Kendall Sheffield, Deionte Thompson and Maurice Smith.

Team	2014 Highest Ranking	2015 Preseason
Alabama	1	3
Arkansas	NR	18
Auburn	2	6
LSU	8	14
Ole Miss	3	17
Miss. State	1	(26)
Texas A&M	6	(27)

But this is just the start of what most consider the toughest schedule in college football this season, and it could potentially be the most difficult ever.

Thanks to facing the two most hyped teams in the SEC East, Georgia and Tennessee, Alabama is slated to play seven teams ranked in the preseason poll, along with the two top vote-getters outside of the Top 25, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. It’s likely only a matter of time before both move up.

There isn’t a coach in the SEC West who can say that they’ve seen something like this before, because no one has—ever.

Last season was close with Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all in the top five of the Associated Press Poll at some point, with only Arkansas never cracking the Top 25. The Razorbacks just missed, knocking off two ranked teams in November before trampling Texas 31-7.

“It’ll be challenging, but that’s why you come,” said LSU defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, the former Ole Miss head coach who is back in the league after serving as USC’s interim head coach in 2013.

“I really believe this, the front-seven play in the SEC is just more dominant—not that they don’t have great players out there, there’s more of them here. When I was back out West, I thought the offenses were more wide open with the spread and score more points, but now in the SEC everyone spreads. It’s kind of equaled out.”

When Alabama won the 2009 and 2012 national titles, it played six different ranked opponents along the way. In 2011 it was five.

Year	Team	Ranked Opponents	Record
2007	LSU	8	12-2
1997	Michigan	7	12-0
1993	Florida State	7	12-1
1990	Colorado	7	11-1-1
1975	Oklahoma	7	11-1

Should the Crimson Tide hit each opponent right and reach this year’s SEC Championship Game, that’s 10 ranked opponents plus possibly two more in the playoffs.

That’s never occurred in college football. No team has come close.

The record for the most ranked teams a national champion faced is eight, by LSU in 2007 when it went 12-2 and beat Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game. Some consider it the toughest schedule ever played.

(Incidentally, the Notre Dame record is seven, in 1989 and 1990 when Lou Holtz was the coach. The record for a national champion facing teams ranked in the top five of the AP poll is four by Penn State in 1982.)

Alabama faced eight ranked teams in 1970 and 2010, when it went 6-5-1 and 10-3, respectively, and that 2010 squad faced six straight SEC opponents that were coming off a bye.

Year	Ranked Opponents	Record
2010	8	10-3
1970	8	6-5-1
1986	7	10-3
1999	7	10-3
2014	7	12-2
2009	6	14-0
2012	6	13-1

But seeing such a loaded schedule is becoming more commonplace, especially with how tough the SEC West has become. Arkansas played eight ranked teams last season, and Auburn has faced seven in each of the last two years.

Just one or two years ago, Alabama was being criticized for its “soft” schedule, although a lot of that had to do with the SEC schedule rotation and the decline of other programs like Tennessee.

This fall it’s the biggest hurdle the Crimson Tide has to clear and could decide if the season will lead to a championship or be more like three-loss 2010.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” junior defensive end Jonathan Allen said about the challenge. “We love playing a demanding schedule, and we love getting up for games week in, week out.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.