Alabama football schedule 2024: Which road game will be toughest test? – Tuscaloosa Magazine

The Alabama football schedule for 2024 doesn’t lack intriguing matchups. Especially when it comes to road trips.
Yes, the matchup vs. Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium has the potential to be the game of the season, but the road trips feature many of the best games on Alabama‘s schedule. There are road trips against longtime rivals. Then there are fresh road trips to places such as Wisconsin.
But which game will test Alabama the most?
The natural pick would be the trip to Death Valley.
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Tiger Stadium is a tough place to play for any program, much less a rival such as Alabama. Plus, LSU should have a solid team this season, even with key departures such as Jayden Daniels. The Tigers figure to be a contender for the SEC. But will that translate to the most difficult road game on the schedule?
Maybe. But there’s a reason why it won’t be.
Alabama has an open week right before the LSU game, giving the Crimson Tide two weeks to prepare for the Tigers. Plus, the next game after LSU will be against Mercer at home. No players or coaches are going to get caught looking ahead to that game instead of the matchup with LSU.
It’s why Oklahoma might be the toughest road test.
Alabama must go to Norman and face the Sooners on Nov. 23. That, at face value, doesn’t figure to be an easy game whatsoever. Especially with it on the road. Then there’s another element of which to be wary: It’s the week before the Iron Bowl.
There’s no cupcake right before the game vs. Auburn. Instead, Alabama has a tough SEC road test against Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide will have to be careful that it doesn’t look ahead to the matchup with its instate rival while preparing for the Sooners.
It might end up a non-issue, but Alabama will have to show discipline to navigate that correctly.
Tennessee is sure to present a challenge at Neyland Stadium as well. Wisconsin could too, considering it’s the first road game for Alabama this season and it’s a new environment.
Time will tell as to what becomes the most difficult road test, but don’t be surprised if it ends up being the game that’s played on Nov. 23.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men’s basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

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