Alabama’s Bryce Younger celebrates after throwing a landing move in the course of the second half of the Faculty Soccer Playoff championship soccer recreation towards Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. Darron Cummings, Related Press
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) celebrates a defensive cease towards LSU in the course of the first half of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Anderson was named to The Related Press preseason All-America crew on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Vasha Hunt, Related Press
Utah State at No. 1 Alabama
- Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. MDT.
- Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821 capability).
- TV: SEC Community.
- Livestream: WatchESPN
- Radio: Sirius XM 381 / SXM App 971.
- Collection: The Aggies and Crimson Tide have solely met twice ever previous to this season, in 2004 and once more in 2005.
- Climate: Largely cloudy with temperatures within the excessive 70s at kickoff, with a 21% probability of precipitation.
The tendencies
For Utah State: The Aggies are 1-0 after a season opening win over UConn. Utah State began gradual towards the Huskies and — setting apart the second quarter — wasn’t at its finest, however nonetheless managed to return away with the victory.
For Alabama: The Crimson Tide are opening their season towards the Aggies. Ranked No. 1 within the nation, Alabama is predicted to as soon as towards contend for a nationwide title after dropping to Georgia within the 2021 nationwide championship recreation.
What to look at for
Simply how good is Alabama? Have been Utah State’s struggles towards UConn easy rust or one thing else?
These are a few of the main questions getting into Saturday’s contest between the Crimson Tide and Aggies.
Alabama opens its season with the Aggies and expectations stay as excessive as ever in Tuscaloosa. Underneath Nick Saban, Alabama has been probably the most constant energy in faculty soccer and has probably the most Faculty Soccer Playoff appearances (7), wins (9) and nationwide championships (3), because the CFP was instituted in 2014.
Ranked No. 1 within the AP preseason ballot, Alabama ought to be proper within the combine for an additional nationwide title this season.
Utah State struggled a bit in its season opener towards UConn. The Huskies’ dimension proved problematic at occasions and the Aggies struggled to seek out any kind of constant momentum on offense. Defensively, poor tackling and positioning plagued Utah State, particularly early.
The reigning Mountain West Convention champions ought to enhance from Week 0 to Week 1, although it might take an ideal recreation for the Aggies to problem the Crimson Tide.
Key participant
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) celebrates a defensive cease towards LSU in the course of the first half of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Anderson was named to The Related Press preseason All-America crew on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.
Vasha Hunt, Related Press
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama: Most weeks, an important participant in all probability ought to be a quarterback and that will initially appear to be the case towards Alabama, given the Crimson Tide boast quarterback Bryce Younger, the reigning Heisman Trophy award winner.
There may be additionally a case to be made for operating again Jahmyr Gibbs, a switch from Georgia Tech is perhaps one of the best operating again within the nation.
And but, Anderson has been usually talked about as being Alabama’s finest participant and one of the best general participant in all of school soccer.
Slowed for components of final season with accidents, Anderson nonetheless racked up 101 tackles and 17.5 sacks in 2021, with the consensus being that he's able to enhancing on these numbers this yr.
Anderson is likely one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this yr, regardless of enjoying solely on protection.
Quotable
“They (Alabama) are possibly one of the best crew on the planet. There are simply no weaknesses. They're an enormous problem for our guys. We have now to concentrate on us, concentrate on getting higher. We can not concentrate on Alabama this week or we'll go in starry eyed after which search for at halftime and the sport can be over. ... If we don’t play our greatest ball I do know precisely the way it will go and none of us will prefer it.” — Utah State head coach Blake Anderson, on dealing with Alabama.
“Blake Anderson has executed a very good job there. This crew (Utah State) can play actually in any convention and do properly. ... They have been one of the vital efficient passing groups within the nation a yr in the past. These guys are very aggressive on protection, they create plenty of unfavorable performs, they get plenty of turnovers they usually have their specialists again.” — Alabama head coach Nick Saban, on dealing with Utah State.
Subsequent up
Utah State returns dwelling to face in-state FCS energy Weber State on Sept. 10. Alabama, in the meantime, will journey to Austin to tackle Texas.
Utah State schedule
Aug. 27 — Utah State 31, UConn 20.
Sept. 3 — Utah State at No. 1 Alabama.
Sept. 10 — Utah State vs. Weber State.
Sept. 17 — BYE.
Sept. 24 — Utah State vs. UNLV.
Sept. 29 — Utah State at No. 25 BYU.
Oct. 8 — Utah State vs. Air Drive.
Oct. 15 — Utah State at Colorado State.
Oct. 22 — Utah State at Wyoming.
Oct. 29 — BYE.
Nov. 5 — Utah State vs. New Mexico.
Nov. 12 — Utah State at Hawaii.
Nov. 19 — Utah State vs. San José State.
Nov. 25 — Utah State at Boise State.
All occasions MDT.