The Crimson Tide — which open at No. 1 for the second straight season — are 5-0 all time in openers as the preseason No. 1. Nick Saban will look to improve to 11-0 in openers with Alabama after leading the Tide last year to a 52-6 demolition of No. 20 USC.
MORE: Preseason No. 1 vs. national champs: Bama gets another chance
A few things to know about the preseason No. 1 heading into the opener:
— A No. 1 team lost an opener six times. — A No. 1 hasn’t lost the opener since 1990, when No. 16 BYU defeated No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 24-16. — No. 1 teams are 13-4 against top 25 teams in the opener. — No. 1 teams are 8-1 in neutral-site openers, the lone loss coming in 1984 when No. 14 Miami (Fla.) beat No. 1 Auburn 20-18.
Here’s a look at those games when the preseason No. 1 took on a top 25 team in their opener:
