Welcome to Glass Slipper! There’s an NFL preseason game on this week. We’re close; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

I recently unveiled the 13 college football teams that have a chance of winning the national title. It’s time we break down each of those squads. Let’s move on to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who come in at No. 7.

Offense

1,646 days. When Alabama takes the field against Florida State on August 30, that’s how long it will have been since Ty Simpson committed. Is he ready?

Some folks have already written Simpson off because he was never able to unseat Jalen Milroe. That’s quite the unfair criticism, in my opinion. Did you clown Justin Fields for having to sit behind Jake Fromm? Are you expecting Arch Manning to be a scrub because he spent two years holding a tablet for Quinn Ewers? Look, Milroe had plenty of shortcomings. But in his first season as the man, he came a play away from a national championship appearance and finished sixth in Heisman voting. The ensuing autumn, he logs 491 total yards against the No. 2 team in America and produces 134 points in four ranked matchups. When exactly would you have deemed it prudent to permanently bench him for a younger option?

I won’t act as though Ty’s success is a sure thing, however. He’s looked rather unsettled in limited action at this level; a part of me wonders if those jitters can be traced back to the high school days. His protection at Westview was flat-out embarrassing. Simpson was scrambling so often that it turned him into a full-fledged dual-threat guy. Does he have the patience to stand tall and win from the pocket when teams sink back into coverage? I’ll wait to see it.

The good news? There may not be a signal-caller in America with a more complete supporting cast. Ryan Williams was fairly pedestrian in his final eight contests, but we know he’s headed for 1,200 yards. Germie Bernard is a fantastic No. 2 option, and Isaiah Horton was a really bankable third-down security blanket for Cam Ward a season ago.

I’ve adored Jam Miller for a long time, and I’m expecting a strong campaign. Though his numbers have been undeniably disappointing, I’ll trust my eye test on that one. He and Richard Young have the luxury of running behind an elite offensive line, which features soon-to-be top-10 pick Kadyn Proctor. With Parker Brailsford and Jaeden Roberts also back, I’m seeing a Joe Moore Award finalist here.

To top it off, football soulmates Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb are reunited. Jake Haener was able to create beautiful symphonies under their guidance, so there are absolutely no excuses for Mr. Simpson. If he fails to find his rhythm early, look out. The calls for Keelon Russell will be impossible to ignore.

Defense

The Tide finished ninth nationally in points allowed per game, but repeatedly melted into a puddle at awful times. That trend simply cannot continue. They gave up 27 to Georgia in the second half alone and got away with it. Diego Pavia dropped a 40-burger. Tennessee hung 24 in a 21-minute span. Even Oklahoma’s dreadful attack rumbled for 257 yards on the ground. Needless to say, the unit’s overall performance would have fallen far short of Nick Saban’s standard.

Fortunately for Bama, there’s plenty of continuity on this side of the ball. By my count, five dudes who would’ve been drafted before the conclusion of Day 2 opted for another campaign in Tuscaloosa. LT Overton led the wave of defensive returnees, and Tim Keenan III followed right behind. If that pair fails to take the front four to a realm of dominance, you can wave goodbye to those title dreams. Rings are won in the trenches.

His old running mate is now with the reigning Super Bowl champs, but Deontae Lawson is still here. Assuming the ACL is in good condition, I think he’s the second-best linebacker in the country. When a ridiculously smooth athlete is also entrusted to wear the infamous green dot, you probably have a pretty special player on your hands.

I don’t see a secondary that is definitively superior to this one. Domani Jackson was an absolute liability at USC, yet just turned in a solid season against much better competition; I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Zabien Brown showed flashes of stardom as a true freshman. DaShawn Jones slides into the the Husky spot, and Utah transfer Cam Calhoun - who I’ve been familiar with since the Winton Woods days - is going to push everyone for playing time. Meanwhile, Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb form an S-tier safety duo. It’ll be rough waters for opposing QBs all year. Perhaps Tommy Castellanos should have glanced at a Tide depth chart before running his mouth.

Season Outlook

Pre-Bowl Record Prediction: 9-3

Selection Sunday Fan Mood: We miss you, Nick. We miss you so much. Please come back. You don’t belong on that College GameDay set. You belong here.

Pressroom

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“Reasons To Stay” by Tanika Charles. Enjoy.