Alabama Football: Tide roll Louisville behind Tua Tagovailoa’s big game

1. Let the Jalen Hurts sweepstakes begin

Nick Saban was mum throughout the offseason, refusing to divulge what the majority of college football fans already seemed to know. Jalen Hurts, a two-year starter, was going to be supplanted by sophomore phenom Tua Tagovailoa. When the Tide finally took the field against Louisville, it was Tagovailoa that took the field first.

Any thoughts of a competition faded fast. Tagovailoa led a seven play, 65-yard scoring drive, a 55-yard scoring drive and 75-yard scoring drive, all before halftime. The offense never registered a three-and-out when he was on the field and moved along like a well-oiled machine. It was Tagovailoa’s first career start, but you wouldn’t know it.  He completed 12-of-16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

With the job won, Jalen Hurts is surely headed elsewhere. With one semester of courseload left, it’s highly likely he sticks around as the backup before moving on to another program in the spring. The question has moved from “Who will start?” to “Who gets Hurts?”