Schedule
The Sagarin computer ratings calculated Alabama's strength of schedule to be the sixth most difficult out of the 245 Division I teams. The Cosgrove Computer Rankings calculated it as the eighth most difficult out of the 120 Division I FBS teams in its rankings. Alabama's 2008 schedule was officially released on January 4, 2008. It featured six pre-season AP Top 25 teams, five of which were ranked in the top 10, eight of which made bowl games in 2007.
In accordance with conference rules, Alabama faced all five Western Division opponents: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. They also faced three Eastern Division opponents: official SEC rival Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky. Alabama did not play SEC opponents South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Although not on the regular season schedule, Bama met Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama also played four non-conference games. The non-conference schedule included games against Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Tulane of Conference USA and both WKU and Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference. For the 2009 Sugar Bowl, Alabama played Utah.
| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | 7:00 PM | vs. #9 Clemson* | #24 | Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A College Kickoff) | ABC | W 34–10 | 70,097 | |
| September 6 | 6:00 PM | Tulane* | #13 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 20–6 | 92,138 | |
| September 13 | 6:00 PM | WKU* | #11 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 41–7 | 92,138 | |
| September 20 | 11:30 AM | at Arkansas | #9 | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR | Raycom | W 49–14 | 72,315 | |
| September 27 | 6:45 PM | at #3 Georgia | #8 | Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA | ESPN | W 41–30 | 92,746 | |
| October 4 | 2:30 PM | Kentucky | #2 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | CBS | W 17–14 | 92,138 | |
| October 18 | 2:30 PM | Ole Miss | #2 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry) | CBS | W 24–20 | 92,138 | |
| October 25 | 6:45 PM | at Tennessee | #2 | Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October) | ESPN | W 29–9 | 106,138 | |
| November 1 | 2:00 PM | Arkansas State* | #2 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | PPV | W 35–0 | 92,138 | |
| November 8 | 2:30 PM | at #15 LSU | #1 | Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Rivalry) | CBS | W 27–21 OT | 93,039 | |
| November 15 | 6:45 PM | Mississippi State | #1 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry) | ESPN | W 32–7 | 92,138 | |
| November 29 | 2:30 PM | Auburn | #1 | Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Iron Bowl) | CBS | W 36–0 | 92,138 | |
| December 6 | 3:00 PM | vs. #2 Florida | #1 | Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (SEC Championship Game) | CBS | L 20–31 | 75,892 | |
| January 2, 2009 | 7:00 PM | vs. #7 Utah* | #4 | Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl) | FOX | L 17–31 | 71,872 | |
Read more about this topic: 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team