Alabama football is set to kick off its first season under Kalen DeBoer's leadership this weekend. It will mark the first time in 17 years that there is a new face leading the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Crimson Tide enter the season ranked as the No. 5 team in the country and will face the Hilltoppers on Saturday (6:05 p.m. CT, ESPN), making its debut on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Here's our scouting report of the Hilltoppers, how they stack up with the Crimson Tide, and a score prediction for the game.
Western Kentucky players to know
Western Kentucky has a reputation for its passing offense, and there is a familiar face set to lead the Hilltoppers offense in quarterback TJ Finley. Finley was named the Hilltoppers' starter on Monday.
Saturday will actually mark Finley's third time facing Alabama in his collegiate career, with stops at Auburn, LSU and most recently, Texas State. Alabama football defensive coordinator Kane Wommack faced Finley last year when he was the head coach at South Alabama, a 52-44 Texas State win. Finley started in all 13 games for the Bobcats last season, going 279-of-414 passing for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns while being intercepted eight times. He also added 81 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Finley will have a receiver group consisting of Michael Mathison, who missed the 2023 season due to injury, Easton Messer (42 receptions, 484 yards and four TDs), K.D. Hutchinson (20 receptions, 194 yards and two TDs) and Moussa Berry (nine receptions, 145 yards and one TD). The Hilltoppers also have transfer wide receivers in Koy Moore (Auburn), Kisean Johnson (Alabama State) and Demick Starling (Virginia).
Defensively, Western Kentucky returns its leading tackler from 2023 in linebacker Kylan Guidry, who tallied 54 total tackles, six for loss. It also returns defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. who led the team with four interceptions.
From the transfer portal, the Hilltoppers added linebacker Terreance Ellis from Alcorn State, where he tallied 99 tackles, eight for loss, four sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 2023. Western Kentucky also added players with SEC experience in its secondary in Kent Robinson (Texas A&M) and Demarko Williams (Ole Miss).
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History of Alabama football vs. Western Kentucky
Alabama and Western Kentucky have played three times before.
The Crimson Tide has won all three of those matchups, most recently a 38-10 win on Sept. 10, 2016. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has yet to face Western Kentucky in his career. Hilltoppers coach Tyson Helton will be facing Alabama for the first time as a head coach.
Another connection between Alabama and Western Kentucky is Crimson Tide tight ends coach Bryan Ellis, who served as offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky under Helton between 2019-21. Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard also spent time with the Hilltoppers between 2011-15, first serving as a defensive analyst and volunteer assistant for two years before becoming an offensive analyst in 2013 and wide receivers coach in 2014.
Alabama football vs. Western Kentucky score prediction
Alabama 49, Western Kentucky 10 : Alabama will be looking to make a statement in DeBoer's debut, and expect them to do so Saturday. The Crimson Tide may have a few blemishes with it being the first game of the season, but expect Alabama to come out strong and win big. It will be interesting to see Alabama's rotation within its secondary with its talented group of true freshmen, along with seeing its rotation at wide receiver, where DeBoer said he expects anywhere between 5-7 guys to see time on the field.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football vs. Western Kentucky: Score prediction, scouting report
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