Alabama football got its 2024 season started in dominant fashion with a 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Kalen DeBoer’s head coaching debut for the Crimson Tide after taking over for Nick Saban in January.
Jalen Milroe accounted for five of Alabama’s touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, finishing the night with 200 yards passing. Freshman Ryan Williams also made his Alabama debut, finishing with 139 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, one an 84-yard bomb, while Michigan transfer Keon Sabb brought down two interceptions, both coming in the first quarter.
Alabama (1-0) will host South Florida next Saturday.
Western Kentucky (0-1) was held to 145 total yards of offense compared to Alabama’s 600.
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Alabama football vs Western Kentucky score updates
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Alabama | 21 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
| Western Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ty Simpson rushing TD
Ty Simpson carried the ball 15-yards into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season. Alabama now leads 63-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Daniel Hill first career Alabama football touchdown
Freshman Daniel Hill recorded his first career touchdown off a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Alabama now leads 56-0 with 2:51 left in the third.
Ty Simpson in for Milroe at QB
Backup quarterback Ty Simpson entered the game at the midway point of the third quarter. Milroe finished the night going 7-of-9 passing for 200 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for an additional 79 yards and two scores.
Jalen Milroe rushing TD
Jalen Milroe scored a 21-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, capping off a nine play, 61-yard drive. Alabama now leads 49-0.
Halftime: Alabama 42, Western Kentucky 0
Alabama leads 42-0 at the half. Alabama finished with 354 total yards of offense in the first half while WKU was held to 131-total yards.
Ryan Williams strikes again
Milroe connected with Ryan Williams again, this time for a 55-yard touchdown reception. Alabama now leads 42-0 with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
QB Caden Vetkamp in for WKU
Halway through the second quarter, Caden Vetkamp entered the game for the Hilltoppers, taking over for TJ FInley who started the game. Finley had gone 18-of-31 for 92 yards and two interceptions before being pulled.
Justice Haynes 85-yard touchdown run
Justice Haynes took it 85-yards up the middle for Alabama's second touchdown of the second quarter. It put Alabama up 35-0 with 2:53 remaining in the second quarter.
Jam Miller touchdown run
On the third play of Alabama's first drive in the second quarter, Jam Miller ran the ball 39-yards to the end zone for Alabama's fourth touchdown of the night. Alabama now leads 28-0.
End 1st quarter: Alabama football 21, Western Kentucky 0
Alabama leads 21-0 after the first quarter. Milroe used his legs for the first score and threw for the other two, one to Kendrick Law and another to Ryan Williams.
Ryan Williams scores his first Alabama football touchdown
Freshman wide receiver got his first career touchdown, with Milroe connecting with him for an 84-yard touchdown pass. Alabama now leads 21-0 with 2:27 left in the first.
Alabama football touchdown: Milroe to Kendrick Law
Jalen Milroe connected with Kendrick Law for a short pass, with Law running it 22-yards to the end zone. Alabama now leads 14-0 with 5:01 left in the first. Both of its scoring drives have been set up by Keon Sabb interceptions.
Keon Sabb intercepts TJ Finley again
Keon Sabb picked off TJ Finley for the second time with 7:25 left in the first quarter. Sabb returned the interception 64-yards to set Alabama's offense up at the WKU 26.
Jalen Milroe 12-yard rushing touchdown
Quarterback Jalen Milroe scored a 12-yard touchdown to get Alabama on the board with 10:07 left in the first quarter. It capped off a two-play, 16-yard drive for Alabama.
Keon Sabb first interception in an Alabama football uniform
Michigan transfer Keon Sabb picked off TJ Finley for his first touchdown in an Alabama uniform. He set the Alabama offense up at the WKU 16-yard line.
Alabama football vs Western Kentucky time today
- Date:Saturday, Aug. 31
- Time:6:05 p.m. CT
- Location: Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium
What channel is Alabama football vs Western Kentucky game on today?
- TV channel:ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Radio:Crimson Tide Sports Network on Sirius/XM: 81
Alabama vs Western Kentucky will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Dave Pasch will call the play-by-play and Gary Dusty Dvorarcek will serve as the analyst, with Taylor McGregor reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game includeESPN+, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
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Alabama football vs Western Kentucky history
- Series record:Alabama leads 3-0
- Alabama's last win:Alabama 38, Western Kentucky 10 (Sept. 10, 2016)
Alabama football vs Western Kentucky predictions
Alabama will be looking to make a statement in its first game under DeBoer, and expect it to do so.
Final score prediction: Alabama 49, Western Kentucky 10
Alabama football vs Western Kentucky betting odds
Game lines and odds fromBetMGMas of Friday afternoon:
- Spread:Alabama -31.5
- Over/under: -115/-110
- Moneyline:Alabama -10000, WKU +2025
Alabama football vs Western Kentucky injury updates
Earlier in the week, Alabama football's DeBoer said linebacker Jeremiah Alexander will be the only question mark for the Crimson Tide heading into Saturday's contest.
Alabama football vs Western Kentucky weather update
Weather in Tuscaloosa on Saturday is expected to be partly to mostly cloudy, humid and warm with a high of 92 degrees and a 15% chance of rain. At kickoff time, the temperature is slated to be 90 degrees.
Alabama football 2024 schedule
All times Central.
- Saturday, Aug. 31:Alabama vs. Western Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 7:Alabama vs. South Florida | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 14:Alabama at Wisconsin | 11 a.m. | Fox (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 21:BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 28:Alabama vs. No. 1 Georgia | 6:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)*
- Saturday, Oct. 5:Alabama at Vanderbilt*
- Saturday, Oct. 12:Alabama vs. South Carolina | 11 a.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
- Saturday, Oct. 19:Alabama at No. 15 Tennessee*
- Saturday, Oct. 26:Alabama vs. No. 11 Missouri*
- Saturday, Nov. 2:BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 9:Alabama at No. 12 LSU*
- Saturday, Nov. 16: Alabama vs. Mercer | 1 p.m. |ESPN+, SEC Network+
- Saturday, Nov. 23:Alabama at No. 16 Oklahoma*
- Saturday, Nov. 30:Alabama vs. Auburn*
Buy Alabama football tickets with StubHub
Western Kentucky football 2024 schedule
- Saturday, Aug. 31:Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama
- Saturday, Sept. 7:Western Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky
- Saturday, Sept. 14:Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee
- Saturday, Sept. 21:Western Kentucky vs. Toledo
- Saturday, Sept. 28:Western Kentucky at Boston College
- Thursday, Oct. 10:Western Kentucky vs. UTEP
- Saturday, Oct. 12:Alabama vs. South Carolina | 11 a.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
- Wednesday, Oct. 16:Western Kentucky at Sam Houston
- Wednesday, Oct. 30:Western Kentucky vs. Kennesaw State
- Saturday, Nov. 2:BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 9:Western Kentucky at New Mexico State
- Saturday, Nov. 16: Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech
- Saturday, Nov. 23:Western Kentucky at Liberty
- Saturday, Nov. 30:Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State
Alabama football news
INJURY UPDATE:Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer provides injury updates ahead of season opener vs. WKU
KNEELAND HIBBETT:Alabama football's Kneeland Hibbett placed on scholarship under Kalen DeBoer
RYAN WILLIAMS:3 things to know about Alabama football freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams
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