How to Watch Week 1: Middle Tennessee at Alabama

The Crimson Tide opens the 2023 college football season against the Blue Raiders at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The 2023 college football season has finally arrived, and even though the Alabama Crimson Tide isn't facing the biggest opponent during Week 1, there is one compelling aspect to Middle Tennessee visiting Bryant-Denny Stadium. Rick Stockstill is one of the few college football head coaches who has been at his job longer than Nick Saban, who arrived at Alabama in 2007. 

Stockstill is fourth on the longevity list after Kirk Ferentz at Iowa (24 years), Kyle Whittingham at Utah (19), and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State (18). He ranks sixth nationally in most wins by an active FBS coach all coming at the same school, and has led the Blue Raiders to 10 bowl appearances (eligible 12 times). Prior to being named the head coach at Middle Tennessee, Stockstill spent 23 years as an assistant coach including at South Carolina (2004-05) and Clemson (1989-98).

But, you know, Saban's pretty good too. 

How to Watch Middle Tennessee at Alabama

Who: Middle Tennessee at Alabama 

When: 6:30 p.m. CT, Saturday

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. Play-By-Play Eli Gold. Analyst Tyler Watts. Sideline: Christian Miller. Host: Chris Stewart

Series: Crimson Tide leads 2-0 (Alabama win in 2005 was vacated)

Last meeting: In 2015, Alabama won 37-10. Quarterback Jake Coker was 15-for-26 for 214 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, all in the first half, while competing for the starting job. Running back Derrick Henry scored three touchdowns. The Crimson Tide had an edge in total yards 532-275.

Last time out, Alabama: Bryce Young was 15 of 21 for 321 yards and five touchdowns as No. 5 Alabama destroyed No. 9 Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl, 45-20. The defense was led by the safeties as Brian Branch and Jordan Battle both had interceptions, and DeMarcco Hellams had a game-high 13 tackles while helping limit the Wildcats to 210 passing yards. 

Said Nick Saban: "There was a team out there today that cared – cared about how they played; cared about the pride they had in their performance; cared about each other – and they prevailed because of that. I think that (mentality) started way back when we started practice. There are a lot of guys on this team, including these two guys that are sitting next to me (Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young) that have given a lot to this program. The way the team performed out there together as a group, they had something to prove."

Last time out, Middle Tennessee: The Blue Raiders came back from an early 14-point deficit in the Hawai'i Bowl to defeat San Diego State 25-23 thanks to sophomore kick Zeke Rankin's 37-yard field goal. Defensive end Jordan Ferguson scored his third career touchdown, but first with the offense, catching an 8-yard pass in the end zone on fourth down to help spark the comeback. 

After finishing the season 8-5, Stockstill said: "I told our team before the game that toughness is what got us here this year. We were just so resilient, competitive, and persistent in everything we did. I told them at halftime, toughness got us back in the game and toughness would finish it. To me that was the bottom line." 

SEE ALSO: Early Opponent Preview | Game 1: Middle Tennessee State

How to Watch Week 1 of College Football

Thursday's Games (ET)

Charleston Southern vs. North Greenville | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Indiana State vs. Eastern Illinois | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Morehead State vs. West Virginia State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Samford vs. Shorter | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Wake Forest vs. Elon | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
UCF vs. Kent State | 7 p.m. | FS1
Georgia State vs. Rhode Island | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Michigan vs. St. Francis (PA) | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Nicholls vs. Sacramento State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Furman vs. Tennessee Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Kennesaw State vs. Tusculum | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Campbell vs. William & Mary | 7 p.m. | FloFootball
Stony Brook vs. Delaware | 7 p.m. | FloFootball
UConn vs. NC State | 7:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Youngstown State vs. Valparaiso | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Minnesota vs. Nebraska | 8 p.m. | FOX
Missouri vs. South Dakota | 8 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 14 Utah vs. Florida | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Tulsa vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
UAB vs. North Carolina A&T | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Lamar vs. Idaho | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Abilene Christian vs. Northern Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas A&M-Commerce vs. UC Davis | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
South Dakota State vs. Western Oregon | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Weber State vs. Central Washington | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Lindenwood vs. Wisconsin-Stevens Pointe | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Arizona State vs. Southern Utah | 10 p.m. | Pac-12 Network

Friday's Games (ET)

Eastern Michigan vs. Howard | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Michigan State vs. Central Michigan | 7 p.m. | FS1
Miami (Fla.) vs. Miami (Ohio) | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
Georgia Tech vs. Louisville (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Kansas vs. Missouri State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Hawai'i vs. Stanford | 11 p.m. | CBSSN

Saturday's Games (ET)

No. 25 Iowa vs. Utah State | 12 p.m. | FS1
Kentucky vs. Ball State | 12 p.m. | SEC Network
Liberty vs. Bowling Green | 12 p.m. | CBSSN
No. 2 Michigan vs. East Carolina | 12 p.m. | Peacock
Purdue vs. Fresno State | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
SMU vs. Louisiana Tech | 12 p.m. | ESPNU
No. 12 Tennessee vs. Virginia (Nashville, Tennessee) | 12 p.m. | ABC
No. 17 TCU vs. Colorado | 12 p.m. | FOX
Boston College vs. Northern Illinois | 12 p.m. | ACC Network No. 20
Oklahoma vs. Arkansas State | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Lehigh vs. Villanova | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgetown vs. Marist | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Illinois State vs. Dayton | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
VMI vs. Davidson | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Air Force vs. Robert Morris | 1 p.m. | Altitude Sports
Jacksonville State vs. East Tennessee State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 22 Ole Miss vs. Mercer | 2 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Iowa State vs. UNI | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Temple vs. Akron | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Ohio vs. Long Island University | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Holy Cross vs. Merrimack | 2 p.m. | ESPN+ Montana vs. Butler | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 15 Oregon vs. Portland State | 3 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
Hampton vs. Grambling (Harrison, N.J.) | 3 p.m. | NFL Network
Indiana vs. No. 3 Ohio State | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
Auburn vs. UMass | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Maryland vs. Towson | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 19 Wisconsin vs. Buffalo | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
Western Kentucky vs. South Florida | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN
No. 10 Washington vs. Boise State | 3:30 p.m. | ABC No. 13
Notre Dame vs. Tennessee State | 3:30 p.m. | NBC
Pitt vs. Wofford | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Cincinnati vs. Eastern Kentucky | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 11 Texas vs. Rice | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
Appalachian State vs. Gardner-Webb | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
North Dakota State vs. Eastern Washington (Minneapolis, Minn.) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Arkansas vs. Western Carolina | 4 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Mississippi State vs. SE Louisiana | 4 p.m. | SEC Network
North Texas vs. Cal | 4 p.m. | ESPNU Syracuse vs. Colgate | 4 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
UNLV vs. Bryant | 4 p.m. | Mountain West Network
North Dakota vs. Drake | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 1 Georgia vs. UT Martin | 6 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Charlotte vs. South Carolina State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida Atlantic vs. Monmouth | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgia Southern vs. The Citadel | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
James Madison vs. Bucknell | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Marshall vs. Albany | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Fordham vs. Wagner | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Alabama State vs. Southern | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Cal Poly vs. San Diego | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Stetson vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.) | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Murray State vs. Presbyterian | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida International vs. Maine | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 6 USC vs. Nevada | 6:30 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
No. 23 Texas A&M vs. New Mexico | 7 p.m. | ESPN
UL Monroe vs. Army | 7 p.m. | NFL Network
Vanderbilt vs. Alabama A&M | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Colorado State vs. Washington State | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
Baylor vs. Texas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+ Houston vs. UTSA | 7 p.m. | FS1
No. 16 Kansas State vs. Southeast Missouri State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Oklahoma State vs. Central Arkansas | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Memphis vs. Bethune-Cookman | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Miss vs. Alcorn State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Troy vs. Stephen F. Austin | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Illinois vs. Austin Peay | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
North Alabama vs. Chattanooga | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston Christian vs. Arkansas Baptist | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 4 Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee | 7:30 p.m. | SEC
Network Illinois vs. Toledo | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
South Carolina vs. No. 21 North Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 7 Penn State vs. West Virginia | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
Wyoming vs. Texas Tech | 7:30 p.m. | CBS
Louisiana vs. Northwestern State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
No. 24 Tulane vs. South Alabama | 8 p.m. | ESPNU
Texas Southern vs. Prairie View A&M (Houston, Texas) | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
McNeese vs. Tarleton State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Montana State vs. Utah Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
New Mexico State vs. Western Illinois | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
UTEP vs. UIW | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Arizona vs. Northern Arizona | 10 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
BYU vs. Sam Houston | 10:15 p.m. | FS1
UCLA vs. Coastal Carolina | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
San Diego State vs. Idaho State | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN

Sunday's Games (ET)

Rutgers vs. Northwestern | 12 p.m. | CBS
Florida A&M vs. Jackson State (Miami Gardens, Fla.) | 3 p.m. | ESPN
San Jose State vs. No. 18 Oregon State | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 5 LSU (Orlando, Florida) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC

Monday's Game (ET)

Duke vs. No. 9 Clemson | 8 p.m. | ESPN