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Alabama Football: Ranking Tide’s 2019 opponents by toughness

By Dakota Cox

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 30: The New Mexico State Aggies sing the school song after the game against the New Mexico State Aggies on August 30, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Aggies 48-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 30: The New Mexico State Aggies sing the school song after the game against the New Mexico State Aggies on August 30, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Aggies 48-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

11. New Mexico State (Sept. 7 — Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

This will be a game to simply flex the stars for a few drives before Alabama sends in the second string. Alabama likely won’t have to put up much of a fight to beat the Aggies. This would be more interesting as a basketball game than a football game.

In the heat, Alabama fans won’t last long. The stands will be mostly empty by the end of the first half. This game might have worse attendance than their spring game. Expect almost every player available to get on the field.

Saban is one of the major proponents for a nine-game SEC schedule. It would certainly make the schedule tougher. If that were to ever happen, one of these weaker games will be off the schedule. Week Two will likely be a week that is up for grabs for an SEC game. It would give teams a chance to play a couple of their games on the SEC schedule while still having an easier game later in September.

The most interesting thing that will happen in this game is how the backup quarterback battle plays out. Mac Jones is set to be the second string quarterback, but Taulia Tagovailoa has played well in the spring. If Saban doesn’t have faith in Jones, he will turn to Tua’s brother and she what he’s got. Expect both of them to play, and the better player will win the job.

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