Miami football national preview versus Alabama

The Miami football game against Alabama on September 4 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta was announced as a 3:30 PM kickoff. As part of a big inaugural weekend for the 2021 season, CBS Sports previewed the big games. Alabama against Miami will have many intriguing storylines.

Miami quarterback D’Eriq King will be returning from a knee injury. Bryce Young a 2020 signee will be making his first start at QB for Alabama. The Crimson Tide are reloading after losing several stars from their 2020 team. Young and wide receiver John Metchie are ready for breakout seasons for Alabama.

Miami has added transfer cornerback Tyrique Stevenson from Georgia, defensive end DeAndre Johnson, from Tennessee and wide receiver Charleston Rambo from Oklahoma. Johnson and Stevenson both played against Alabama with their old teams in 2020. Neither should be intimidated by the Crimson Tide.

The nearly completely new defensive coaching staff will make their Miami football debuts against Alabama. Head coach Manny Diaz is reassuming control of the Hurricanes defense as the coordinator. His first game in three seasons calling the defense will be a huge task against Alabama.

"Alabama vs. Miami (FL) — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABCThe first of two Chick-fil-A Kickoff games in Atlanta, Georgia, will take place in the mid-afternoon window. The reigning, defending champs have to replace Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris and WR Jaylen Waddle, among many others.But if there’s one thing we have come to expect from Nick Saban’s group, it’s that it has plenty of blue-chip talent waiting in the wings to have breakout seasons. This will also be the first look we have at QB Bryce Young as he takes over the Crimson Tide offense.Young was the No. 1 quarterback recruit in 2020, and his debut as the full-time starter has been highly-anticipated. The other sideline will also feature one of the top signal-callers in the nation in D’Eriq King.The second-year Cane eschewed the NFL draft in favor of one more year in college after accounting for more than 2,600 yards passing and 27 total touchdowns a year ago. With Clemson not on the regular-season schedule for the Hurricanes, Alabama should pose the toughest test for Manny Diaz’s group."

The Alabama and Miami football teams are kicking off at 3:30 PM ET with Clemson playing Georgia in Charlotte gaining the prime time slot with a 7:30 PM ET start on ABC. The decision was made with the projection that Clemson and Georgia will be a more competitive game. Miami will have to prove it belongs on the field with Alabama.

In addition to restocking its roster former Penn State and Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien is taking over as the new Alabama offensive coordinator. O’Brien is succeeding Steve Sarkisian who was hired as the head coach at Texas. Diaz will be tested calling his defense against O’Brien and the Alabama offense.