Exclusive: Three possible Alabama football trap games that Crimson Tide supporters should be aware of.
Exclusive: Three possible Alabama football trap games that Crimson Tide supporters should be aware of.
The fall schedule for Alabama football is set, and in his first season leading the Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer is looking forward to a chance at a national championship.
The games against Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M are usually eagerly anticipated by Alabama supporters.
Nevertheless, the Southeastern Conference eliminated divisions, so the Tide’s schedule for the following season does not include those four opponents. Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma still stand in Alabama’s way on its difficult remaining schedule. While most people believe Alabama will do well against Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Auburn, there are three games that might easily turn into traps if the Tide is not careful. Fans can watch the competitions down below.
The Badgers of Wisconsin
In Luke Fickell’s debut season, Wisconsin ended 7-6 last year.
It will play Alabama on Saturday, September 14 at 11 a.m. CT on FOX at Camp Randall Stadium.
Week three’s early start on the road will put Coach DeBoer’s squad to the test in his debut season.
Though few anticipate the Badgers to field a strong team, the hostile atmosphere created by the spectators will make it a real road test for the Crimson Tide.
Will Pauling and Bryson Green, two of Wisconsin’s best wide receivers, are among their roster.
Safety Hunter Wohler, who led the team in tackles(120) in 2023, is back. In all, he recorded six pass breakups, two interceptions, 5.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
Darryl Peterson, another standout pass rusher from Wisconsin, is back. Jalen Milroe was sackable 44 times by Alabama’s offensive line the previous season, and Peterson is desperate to put Milroe on the ground multiple times. In 2023, he finished with a team-high 4.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups.
As one of the greatest cornerbacks in the country, junior Ricardo Hallman is back for the Badgers.
Last year, he had the most interceptions for Wisconsin—seven, in fact—one of which was returned for a score.
Tigers from Missouri
After leading the program for four seasons, Eli Drinkwitz has put Missouri on the map for everyone to watch.
Before leading the Tigers to a breakthrough season of 11 victories in 2023, which featured a 14-3 triumph over Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, he guided the team to a 5-5 record in 2020 and two 6-7 seasons.
Because of its placement on the Crimson Tide’s schedule, Missouri is a trap game for Alabama.
On Saturday, October 26, the Tide hosts Missouri at Bryant-Denny Stadium; nevertheless, the contest is sandwiched between two road games against LSU and Tennessee. 2022 saw Alabama lose to both schools on the road, despite starting quarterback Bryce Young (the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner) for the Alabama team.
The Tigers and Volunteers will command a lot of the Tide’s attention, but Missouri cannot be disregarded.
Brady Cook, a 2023 returnee, is a quarterback for the Tigers, just like Alabama.
Last season, he recorded 3,317 passing yards, 319 rushing yards, and 29 touchdowns overall. As the main offensive weapon for the Tigers, Luther Burden III is back. In 2023, the gifted wide receiver caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns.
On offense, Missouri also features tight end Brett Norfleet, Marquis Johnson, and Mookie Cooper.
The Tigers feature Dylan Carnell, Triston Newson, and Johnny Walker Jr. on defense. In 2023, Walker racked up nine quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, five sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. Carnell had seven breakups, eight quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, an interception, a pick-six, and 51 tackles while Newson had seven stops for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Oklahoma Sooners
2022 saw Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners have a difficult first season. However, they finished 10-2 the previous season, sealing their Big 12 Conference membership.
Oklahoma presents Mercer and Auburn with a formidable challenge, much like Missouri did for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide visits Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the Sooners on Saturday, Nov. 23, after hosting Auburn and Mercer at home. Although Oklahoma boasts running backs Tawee Walker and Gavin Sawchuck, quarterback Jackson Arnold will take Dillon Gabriel’s spot. With 744 running yards and nine touchdowns, Sawchuck led the Sooners.
Walker ran for 513 yards and seven touchdowns.
Oklahoma has a number of explosive wide receivers back, including Andrea Anthony, Jayden Gibson, Brenen Thompson, Jahlil Farooq, and Nic Anderson.
In 2023, Anderson shared the team lead with 38 receptions, 10 of which were touchdown receptions.
Danny Stutsman, the team’s top tackler, is back for Oklahoma.
With 104 tackles, 16 stops for loss, three sacks, three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and an interception recovered for a touchdown, he was a very effective linebacker. For his senior season, Ethan Downs is returning to the Sooners’ defensive line.
In 2023, he recorded six quarterback hurries, 4.5 sacks, and 6.5 tackles for loss. Billy Bowman, Oklahoma’s backup playmaker, is back. As a junior, he recorded a team-high six interceptions, three of which were recovered for touchdowns.
Alabama can afford to ignore the Sooners because Venables has Oklahoma on the rise.
Oklahoma is eager to prove to the world that it can compete in the SEC.
