SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – BYU playing the SEC’s Alabama Crimson Tide to open the 2020 college football season is a “big chance,” according to AL.com.
On Saturday, July 18, Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported that Alabama seemed to be closing in on BYU as its first opponent this season.
“If the Crimson Tide ends up playing more than just SEC teams this year, there is a good chance that Tide will open the season against BYU, sources told AL.com,” Zenitz wrote.
Currently, the Cougars and Crimson Tide have no games in the first week of the season after the Pac-12 Conference announced in mid-July that their team would not play games outside of the conference in 2020.
BYU was scheduled to open the season against the Pac-12 Utah Utes on September 3.
Alabama was scheduled to play Pac-12 USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, on September 5.
History of the series
The Cougars and Crimson Tide have only been played once in soccer.
In their only matchup against Alabama, BYU lost to Crimson Tide 38-31 at the 1998 season opener in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on September 5, 1998. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
On September 5, 1998, BYU traveled to Bryant-Denny Stadium and fell to Tide 38-31.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Nick Saban led the Crimson Tide to an 11-2 record in 2019. Alabama ended the year with a 35-16 victory over No. 14 Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. The Tide finished the season at No. 8 in the country, both in AP polls and in the top 25 coaches.
Alabama is replacing its quarterback in 2020 after Tua Tagovailoa entered the NFL Draft and was selected No. 5 overall by the Miami Dolphins.
The alleged starting QB for Crimson Tide this season is Mac Jones. After Tagovailoa suffered an injury late last season, Jones started Alabama’s final three games and led them to a 2-1 record with the only three-point loss to Auburn on the road.
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