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SEC Football: Ranking most important 2021 non-conference games

By John Scimeca

CLEMSON, SC - AUGUST 31: The Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers line up for a snap during the game at Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2013 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - AUGUST 31: The Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers line up for a snap during the game at Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2013 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images) /
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Alabama defeated Miami (Fla.) in the teams’ last meeting on Jan. 1, 1993 in the Sugar Bowl by a score of 34-13. MandatoryCredit: Tim Defrisco/ALLSPORT
Alabama defeated Miami (Fla.) in the teams’ last meeting on Jan. 1, 1993 in the Sugar Bowl by a score of 34-13. MandatoryCredit: Tim Defrisco/ALLSPORT /

Saturday, Sept. 4. 0. 829. 0. ABC. . 3:30 PM ET. 834

This neutral-site game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 14 Miami (Fla.) will have a ton of implications for the SEC in Week 1. The only reason that this game doesn’t rank as the most or second-most important to the league is that Alabama will probably demolish the Hurricanes in convincing fashion.

Or will the Crimson Tide?

We all know that Nick Saban and the Tide don’t rebuild; they reload. Alabama regularly pumps in a lot of talent to the NFL these days — in fact, 81 current NFL players played collegiately for the Crimson Tide, the most of any program.

Hurricanes fans feel bullish about the work of third-year head coach Manny Diaz in South Florida. He’s improved in each of his first two seasons, and he has significant talent on a roster that headlines quarterback D’Eriq King, who is expected to be back at full strength from a tough ACL injury in a bowl game last December. King is a dynamic playmaker who can truly stretch a defense with his throwing and running ability.

Alabama must replace its most recognizable stars from the past several seasons at many major positions, like quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Plenty of star-studded talent returns, but the new faces don’t have a tune-up game against an FCS opponent before facing Miami in the season opener. (The Tide plays Mercer instead in Week 2, the following weekend.)

That being said, it’s hard to see Miami giving Alabama much trouble in Week 1. This game almost feels like a rerun of the Bama-Florida State season opener a few years ago, when the Tide took out Deandre Francois and the entire years-long momentum of the Florida State football program, too.

The Hurricanes aren’t in a downward trajectory like those Seminoles were, but they’ll hope that an early loss to Alabama doesn’t put a blemish on what could still be a special season (i.e. no Clemson in the regular-season schedule).

For Alabama, this season opener can demonstrate how the new faces in the huddle haven’t lost a step after last year’s national championship-winning team.

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