Alabama football schedule: Predicting the Crimson Tide’s first loss (if they lose at all)

Alabama football went undefeated last year but will the reigning national champs run the table in 2021?

After navigating a tough 10-game SEC schedule en route to another national title, it may not be in the cards for the Alabama football team to rattle back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Alabama may be the favorite to win the College Football Playoff again, but the Crimson Tide lost so much talent on the offensive side of the ball to the 2021 NFL Draft. They also lost a ton of coaches off of last year’s staff to other jobs. Even if Bryce Young is the real deal under center for them, it is hard to envision Alabama finishing the season a perfect 15-0 en route to a national title.

If Alabama does lose a game this year, when is the Crimson Tide’s first loss most likely to occur?

Alabama football schedule: When will the Crimson Tide lose first?

When looking at the Alabama football schedule for 2021, you can point out a few spots where the Tide could potentially slip up. It doesn’t help that the start of the season features several challenging matchups.

In September, the Crimson Tide have two tough games vs. Miami in the opener and a date with Florida in the Swamp. While they should beat the Miami Hurricanes in Atlanta and escape with a road victory in Gainesville over the Florida Gators, that is a lot to ask of new starting quarterback Bryce Young who will be playing under a new offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien. Regardless, Alabama will get through September unscathed.

As far as the October slate, keep an eye on two games: Home vs. the Ole Miss Rebels on Oct. 2 and at the Texas A&M Aggies the following week on Oct. 9. While no Nick Saban protege has ever beaten him, Lane Kiffin and Jimbo Fisher will be the first to try to do it this year. Not saying it will happen, but Ole Miss and Texas A&M back-to-back will be very challenging.

If I had to circle a game on Alabama’s regular-season schedule and say the Crimson Tide were going to lose, it would be the road date at College Station vs. the Aggies. This was the first team out of the College Football Playoff picture a year ago. While they lost quarterback Kellen Mond to the NFL Draft, Texas A&M still has Isaiah Spiller at running back and Jalen Wydermyer at tight end.

If Alabama were to get through the October slate at a perfect 8-0, other potential losses could come at home vs. the LSU Tigers on Nov. 6 or at the rival Auburn Tigers on Nov. 27.

Assuming the Tide win the SEC West, they could potentially lose to the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta or Florida in an SEC Championship game rematch. From there, it is all about first-round playoff matchups.

While Alabama could win it all again, their most likely loss could be at Texas A&M.

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