Bama In the NFL: 2024 Schedule Release

The NFL has officially released its schedule for the 2024-2025 NFL season, and the league is full of former Crimson Tide stars who all hope to propel their team toward the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl.

Get our free mobile app

What are some notable matchups for former Alabama players? Several found new homes for the season, including Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney, Jerry Jeudy, Heisman winner Derrick Henry, and others. We knew the opponents for each NFL team after the 2023-2024 regular season ended, but we now know the dates. Here are the top five games for Alabama fans who want to keep up with the Crimson Tide in the NFL.

Detroit Lions at Houston Texans - Week 10 (SNF)

The Lions and the Texans are two teams that feature a strong presence from former Crimson Tide stars, and Detroit added to it with the selection of Terrion Arnold in the first round of this year's NFL draft. The Lions just made Jared Goff the second-highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, and are relying on him to get the ball to their playmakers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Williams and Gibbs burst onto the scene during the Lions NFC Championship loss to the 49ers last season, and will both look to take on an increased role in 2024. Defensively, Brian Branch helped anchor the secondary as a rookie and is now starting safety for the Lions with the departure of CJ Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia. The cornerback position was one that struggled at times for Detroit, and with the rest of the NFC North improving offensively via free agency and the draft, Detroit decided the addition of Terrion Arnold to the cornerback room would help them stop opposing offenses. Detroit made Arnold the final first-round pick from Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama.

For Houston, they turned from NFL laughing stock to NFL frontrunner after just one season. The Texans rely heavily on an Alabama presence defensively, with Will Anderson Jr. leading the way as the team's leading edge rusher. Henry To'oTo'o and Christian Harris alternate starts at inside linebacker, and both made legitimate contributions to the Texans last season. Harris was second on the team in total tackles, while To''To'o was sixth. With the departure of leading tackler Blake Cashman to the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans, led by former Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans as the head coach, Houston will rely on an even bigger presence from the Alabama coalition defensively.

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans - Week 15

Former Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will have his hands full in week 15 when he takes on Will Anderson Jr. and the Houston Texans. Tagovailoa is set for a huge payday, one that could make him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, and the Dolphins will have to rely on their lead signal caller if they hope to leave Houston with a victory. Tua will have a plethora of weapons available to him, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle making up arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. The Dolphins offense will have to be on top of their game, however, because Texans coach DeMeco Ryans will certainly have a strong game plan.

Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles - Week 14

Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers did not have the expected season last year, resulting in the worst record in the NFL and the first overall pick, which the Panthers traded to Chicago for the No. 1 overall pick last season when they selected Young. Last season, Young and the Panthers played against Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. This season, they'll get another former Alabama quarterback, with the Panthers traveling to Philadelphia to take on Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in week 14. Young got a local weapon in the first round with South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Leggette set to be a target early. The Panthers also traded for Steelers wide receiver Diontae Jonhson to be Young's top option. They also invested heavily in the offensive line, which they'll need to contend with the stout Eagles defense. Philadelphia has a large coalition of Alabama players, with Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Tyler Steen offensively, and Eli Ricks and Josh Jobe on defense. Hurts and Smith will look to ignite a connection that has improved every season they have been together, and Philadelphia is hoping to return to the Super Bowl under Nick Sirianni.

Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers - Week 7

Spoiler - The Houston Texans will likely appear in every "notable game" for former Alabama players because of the representatives from the University. Will Anderson Jr. is the commander of the defense, and Christian Harris and Henry To'oTo'o will look to increase their roles next season. Houston also has John Metchie III on offense, but he plays sparingly. Houston's head coach, DeMeco Ryans, won NFL Coach of the Year last year and is a former linebacker from the University of Alabama. The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, have two Alabama players on their roster for the first time since 2019, when they had JK Scott, Tim Williams, and Tony Brown. The Packers signed Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney in free agency, shoring up arguably the worst safety room in the NFL in 2023 and replacing longtime Packer, Aaron Jones. Both players are set to have an immediate impact on Green Bay as the Packers hope to return to their Super Bowl window that they saw stay open for so long under Aaron Rodgers.

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens - Week 13

The NFL will be coming down the home stretch of the season when these two pair up for a battle of former Heisman winners. Lamar Jackson and new Ravens running back Derrick Henry won back-to-back Heisman trophies in 2015 and 2016, while DeVonta Smith won the Heisman in 2020. It will be an electric matchup of not only prolific offenses but also strong defenses, with former Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey likely guarding Smith on the outside. Hurts and Jackson will go toe to toe, in a game likely featuring two runners for NFL MVP.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.