NCAAF Game Preview - Southern Miss at Alabama
Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:00 PM EDT

UNCC
10
Clem
52
F
SMiss
7
Bama
49
F
ND
17
UGA
23
F
LSU
66
Vand
38
F
MiaOH
5
OSU
76
F
Aub
28
TxAM
20
F
Tenn
3
Fla
34
F
Utah
23
USC
30
F
Mich
14
Wisc
35
F
OkSt
30
Tex
36
F
UCF
34
Pitt
35
F
Oreg
21
Stan
6
F
UCLA
67
WaSt
63
F
AF
19
Boise
30
F
OD
17
UVA
28
F
Wash
45
BYU
19
F
Cal
28
Miss
20
F
Colo
34
AzSt
31
F
SMU
41
TCU
38
F
Hou
31
Tul
38
F
FLInt
31
LT
43
F
MSU
31
NW
10
F
ULMon
20
IASt
72
F
Elon
7
Wake
49
F
WestMI
33
Syr
52
F
BC
30
Rut
16
F
UConn
3
Ind
38
F
Mor
21
Army
52
F
CoCar
62
UMass
28
F
ULLaf
45
Ohio
25
F
CenCt
29
E Mi
34
F
Troy
35
Akr
7
F
BGSU
20
Kent
62
F
SoAl
3
UAB
35
F
Wyo
21
Tuls
24
F
App
34
UNC
31
F
Lou
24
FlaSt
35
F
Temp
22
Buff
38
F
JMU
37
Chat
14
F
SCar
14
MIZ
34
F
KY
13
MissSt
28
F
C Mi
12
MiaFL
17
F
NMS
52
NM
55
F
WVU
29
Kans
24
F
W&M
7
ECU
19
F
Hamp
27
Lib
62
F
Wagn
7
FlAtl
42
F
GASt
34
TxSt
37
F(2OT)
(N/A)
6
SamHu
45
F
SIU
28
ArkSt
41
F
N AL
12
JacSt
30
F
Bayl
21
Rice
13
F
Ball
23
NCSt
34
F
UTSA
3
NorTx
45
F
SJSU
31
Ark
24
F
NEV
37
UTEP
21
F
Neb
42
Ill
38
F
SacSt
20
Fres
34
F
Toled
41
ColSt
35
F
UtSt
23
SDSU
17
F
C Ark
16
Hawaii
35
F
Southern Miss.-Alabama Preview
Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:58 AM

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama officials have bemoaned daytime September games where heat takes a toll on players and fans alike.

They're no Saturday afternoon picnic for opposing teams either.

The second-ranked Crimson Tide welcomes the latest big underdog Saturday when Southern Miss visits for a game that kicks off before lunchtime. If oddsmakers' 39-point spread holds true, the kickoff time will have supplied the biggest drama.

Alabama's athletic director Greg Byrne and president Stuart R. Bell issued a statement when the start time was announced saying they were "disappointed" with another daytime home game. That followed a steamy 62-10 win over New Mexico State two weeks ago.

Temperatures should be a few degrees cooler for this one, down to the low 90s at kickoff.

On the field, Alabama's injury-plagued defense faces quarterback Jack Abraham and Conference USA's top passing team.

"This is going to be a real challenge for us but we are focused on what we need to do as a team to get our guys better and play to a standard that we'd like to play to for 60 minutes in the game," Tide coach Nick Saban said.

Alabama hasn't faced much of a challenge yet, with last week's 24-point win at South Carolina the tightest margin so far. And five of the next six games are at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where the Tide has won 27 straight games.

Southern Miss is playing in the state of Alabama for the second straight week. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 47-42 win at Troy .

This will be a much bigger challenge on both sides of the ball.

"We've got to make sure we play great in all phases - offensively, defensively and special teams," Southern Miss coach Jay Hopson said. "It's no secret we're playing an outstanding football team, a great football team. We're going to have to certainly be on our A-plus game this week.

"There's no team that is going to have our respect more than Alabama."

Some other things to look for in the Southern Miss-Alabama game:

PROLIFIC QBS

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has lived up to his billing as one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates. Tagovailoa has thrown for 12 touchdowns without an interception while completing 76.9 percent of his passes. Abraham is averaging 330 passing yards per game, with five touchdowns against three interceptions.

BAMA'S FRESHMAN FRONT

Alabama could have four freshman starters on the front seven. Defensive end Justin Eboigbe is expected to replace an injured LaBryan Ray. He'd join inside linebackers Shane Lee and Christian Harris and nose guard DJ Dale in the starting lineup, if the Tide sticks with the group from the first three games. Eboigbe has only played in one game and hasn't recorded a stat.

RETURN THREAT

Southern Miss has a huge special teams threat in Jaylond Adams . Adams has returned two kicks and a punt for a touchdown on just nine combined returns.

"He's an exceptional returner, arguably one of the best in college football," Alabama receiver and kick returner Henry Ruggs III said. "Of course, they have a good scheme, a team that takes passion in the return game. Special teams is a big part of the game and they have been having success with it."

FACING NO. 2

Alabama is the highest ranked opponent Southern Miss has faced since playing No. 2 Florida on Aug. 30, 1997. The Gators won 21-6. The Golden Eagles' last win over a Top 10 team came against then-No. 7 Houston in the 2011 Conference USA championship game, with a score of 49-28.

SERIES HISTORY

The two teams have met 43 times, all in the state of Alabama: Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. The teams played annually from 1992-2005, and Alabama has won the last six meetings.

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Team Record Comparison

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