Alabama football 2019 season preview: Best and worst-case scenario

After ending the season with the worst loss in the Nick Saban-era, the Alabama Crimson Tide are officially on a revenge tour.

Alabama football looked destined to add another trophy to the growing trophy cabinet in Tuscaloosa last year behind quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a record-breaking offense. Alabama won 12 straight games by 20 or more points and looked unstoppable. But then they met Clemson in another National Championship Game and were humbled, looking vulnerable for the first time in, years.

That was their first test and they failed. The offseason, in particular, SEC Media Days saw just how much that loss affected the mindset of the players who felt they were the better team that night but they didn’t prepare the way they needed in order to finish the race and hoist the trophy.

This year is being hailed as a revenge tour for Heisman runner-up Tagovailoa, Biletnikoff winner Jerry Jeudy, and potential SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Dylan Moses. The SEC schedule is loaded as it always is, but can Alabama navigate those waters and make it back to the College Football Playoff and get revenge vs. Clemson?

Let’s look at the best-case scenario for Alabama football as well as the worst-case scenario.

Alabama football best-case scenario

• Aug. 31 – vs. Duke – W
• Sept. 7 – New Mexico St. – W
• Sept. 14 – at South Carolina – W
• Sept. 21 – vs. Southern Miss – W
• Sept. 28 – vs. Ole Miss – W
• Oct. 12 – at Texas A&M – W
• Oct. 19 – vs. Tennessee – W
• Oct. 26 – vs. Arkansas – W
• Nov. 9 – vs. LSU – W
• Nov. 16 – Mississippi State – W
• Nov. 23 – vs. Western Carolina – W
• Nov. 30 – at Auburn – W

Record: 12-0, playing in SEC Championship Game

As it is most years, the best-case scenario is ripping off an undefeated regular season, winning the SEC and winning the national title.

Alabama has lost a significant amount of experienced talent to the NFL over the past two years. However, with Nick Saban, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his group of receivers and a fresh and hungry young crop of players, this offense could be impossible to stop.

The games against Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn are potential slipping points but there really shouldn’t be many other worries for this Crimson Tide team during the regular season. Saban’s crew will have a shot at an undefeated regular season en route to an appearance in the SEC Championship, and potentially the College Football Playoff if Tagovailoa and the key players stay healthy.

Worst-case scenario for Alabama

• Aug. 31 – vs. Duke – W
• Sept. 7 – New Mexico St. – W
• Sept. 14 – at South Carolina – W
• Sept. 21 – vs. Southern Miss – W
• Sept. 28 – vs. Ole Miss – W
• Oct. 12 – at Texas A&M – L
• Oct. 19 – vs. Tennessee – W
• Oct. 26 – vs. Arkansas – W
• Nov. 9 – vs. LSU – L
• Nov. 16 – at Mississippi State – W
• Nov. 23 – vs. Western Carolina – W
• Nov. 30 – at Auburn – W

Record: 10-2, (6-2 SEC)

A lot of bad things would need to happen for the worst-case scenario to unfold. That’s a testament to how loaded this roster is and how talented Saban and his coaching staff are to avoid these types of pitfalls.

That’s why, in this case, the worst-case scenario is the dreaded season where they drop two or three games, eliminating them from the College Football Playoff for the first time since it’s inception.

Two losses in the regular-season schedule would be bad enough and would mark the first time since 2014 that Alabama football had more than one loss. A tough loss on the road to a good Texas A&M team could be the biggest upset of the year and signal a turnaround for the Aggies under Jimbo Fisher. The killer would be losing to LSU at home and see their SEC title hopes dashed.

Barring an injury to Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, Dylan Moses and some key starters, the worst-case scenario is likely not going to happen. Now, it’s entirely possible they don’t go undefeated, but the best-case scenario is more likely to play out than the worst-case so Alabama football fans can breathe easy knowing that.