Kalen DeBoer era finally kicks off for No. 5 Alabama, facing Western Kentucky

The Kalen DeBoer era finally shifts from the headlines to the sidelines.

No. 5 Alabama's new coach and Nick Saban's successor leads the defending Southeastern Conference champion Crimson Tide onto the field on a Saturday night for the first time against Western Kentucky. It's the first look at DeBoer's new team, even if much more telling games lie ahead. The Tide are favored by 30 1/2 points.

Much of the offseason talk has been about replacing a coach who led Alabama to six national titles and won another one at LSU. This week, it's about the team and how it performs on the field under a coach who led Washington to the national championship game last season.

“When you’re prepared well, you’re going to be confident,” DeBoer said. "That’s the whole key and it just doesn’t start this week. It’s something that’s been ongoing since the staff got here, since the first day of workouts in the winter.

“There’s just a mind-set that’s been happening. We talk about creating an attitude, not installing special plays that help your attitude. You create your attitude all year long.”

Milroe's Return

Jalen Milroe returns after a season that included an early-season benching and ultimately a sixth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Milroe is the unquestioned leader of the Tide's offense this go-around, a strong-armed passer who accounted for 35 total touchdowns last season (23 passing, 12 rushing).

Tide Playmakers

There’s no shortage of candidates to replace Alabama’s departed top receivers and running backs.

Tailbacks Jam Miller and Justice Haynes figure to shoulder much of the load in the running game, but there are other former blue-chip recruits behind them.

The Tide must also replace the top three receivers from last season. The big names to watch include Washington transfer Germie Bernard and freshman Ryan Williams, one of the nation's top prospects. Returning players like Kobe Prentice and Kendrick Law could play bigger roles.

“We have six solid guys for sure and there’s a couple of others that are pushing really hard, too,” DeBoer said.

New at WKU

Quarterback TJ Finley, who's on his fourth college stop, heads a long list of newcomers at Western Kentucky. Coach Tyson Helton brought in 53 new players, including 33 transfers. The 6-foot-7, 238-pound Finley is a former LSU and Auburn quarterback who had a breakthrough season at Texas State in 2023.

Finley passed for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions last season. His targets figure to include transfers Kisean Johnson (Alabama State) and Bryce Childress (New Mexico State).

Winning Openers

It has been just shy of 23 years since Alabama lost a season opener. The Tide have opened 22 straight seasons with victories since losing 20-17 to UCLA on Sept. 1, 2001. DeBoer has an 8-1 record in openers as a head coach, with the only loss coming at Fresno State, 34-19 to Hawaii in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. That game was played on Oct. 24.

Special teams

Alabama’s kicking game should be top-notch again. The new placekicker is Graham Nicholson, who won the Lou Groza Award last season for Miami of Ohio. He’ll replace the FBS’s all-time leading scorer Will Reichard.

Punter James Burnip is also back after averaging 47.6 yards per punt, the second highest average in a season for the Tide (minimum 50 kicks).

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John Zenor, The Associated Press