TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—Colorado State (1-2) at No. 1 Alabama (2-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Alabama by 39 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Alabama is trying to avoid a letdown in between a dramatic win over No. 10 Texas A&M and a game with No. 21 Mississippi. Colorado State is hoping to manage a stunner in its second matchup with a No. 1 team.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama secondary versus QB Garrett Grayson. Grayson has passed for 606 yards with four touchdowns against two interceptions, but this is more about a secondary rebuilding confidence—and perhaps adjusting personnel—after getting picked apart by the Aggies’ Johnny Manziel. CB Deion Belue is questionable with turf toe.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama: The running backs. T.J. Yeldon is clearly the primary runner but Kenyan Drake, Jalston Fowler and a couple of freshmen are still jockeying for carries. Nobody has stepped up as a clear No. 2, though Drake gained 50 yards against Texas A&M.
Colorado State: RB Chris Nwoke. Nwoke has run for a team-best 236 yards but Kapri Bibbs isn’t far behind with 201 yards and three touchdowns.
FACTS & FIGURES
It’s the Crimson Tide’s season debut at Bryant-Denny Stadium. … Colorado State coach Jim McElwain was Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2008-11 and helped the Tide to a pair of national titles. … Colorado State is 2-11 against teams currently in the Southeastern Conference. The Rams’ only other game against a No. 1 team came against Southern California—led by Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White— in 2004. The Trojans won 49-0. … Alabama S Vinnie Sunseri is trying to join Antonio Langham (1992) as the program’s only player with non-offensive touchdowns in three consecutive games. Sunseri has returned interceptions for touchdowns against both Virginia Tech and Texas A&M.
