2011 College Football Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule

Roll Tide!  The Crimson Tide rolls into the 2011 football season with high expectations and hopes of an SEC title.  The team will likely be ranked right at the top for college preseason rankings along with other powerhouses like Oklahoma, Oregon and LSU.  In our latest college football preview for 2011, we check out the Alabama Crimson Tide football schedule for 2011!

In 2010, the Tide started their season 5-0 before losing to a strong South Carolina team on the road. ‘Bama finished their season with four more wins, and two tight losses at LSU (21-24) and to eventual national champion Auburn in the Iron Bowl (27-28). They reached the Capital One Bowl where they put a beating on Michigan State 49-7.

The Tide finished with a 10-3 mark, with all three losses coming to SEC opponents. Head Coach Nick Saban and his squad look to improve on that finish in the 2011 campaign. The Tide must fill a number of holes in their offense due to players graduating and being drafted into the NFL. Most notably, they must replace their skill positions. Sophomore QB A.J. McCarron looks to step in under center for the Tide. Trent Richardson will take most of the carries, and Marquis Maze looks to fill the role as Alabama’s deep threat and playmaker.

Here’s the complete 2011 schedule for Alabama Crimson Tide with home and away games:

09/03/11 vs Kent State 11:21AM EST (SEC)
09/10/11 at Penn State 2:30PM EST (ABC)
09/17/11 vs North Texas 6:30PM EST (FSN)
09/24/11 vs Arkansas TBA
10/01/11 at Florida TBA
10/08/11 vs Vanderbilt TBA
10/15/11 at Ole Miss. TBA
10/22/11 vs Tennessee TBA
11/05/11 vs LSU TBA
11/12/11 at Mississippi State TBA
11/19/11 vs Georgia Southern TBA
11/26/11 at Auburn TBA

*All Alabama home games are played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL.

This year’s football schedule is as difficult as ever for the Tide. Although they come into the season rated as high as #3 in some preseason polls, they face six other teams featured in the top 25 of most preseason polls (Penn State, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn).

‘Bama starts its season with a tune-up against Kent State on September 3rd, and then faces its first real test when it travels to State College, PA to face the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 10th.  This will be an early indication of whether or not Alabama is the real deal in the college football rankings.

The Crimson Tide’s 3-4 defense should be led this year by the core of linebackers. With 3 juniors and 1 senior projected to start the season, they are the most experienced unit on Saban’s defense and should make some noise in the SEC this fall.  Stay tuned as the college preseason rankings are unveiled, as this team will certainly be one getting a lot of early buzz.  Will they keep it up for the regular season as well and be able to win another BCS Championship?  That will define this team’s success in 2011!