For the first time since Sept. 1, 2007, No. 5 Alabama football will have someone other named than Nick Saban manning the sidelines in its season opener.

The Kalen DeBoer era officially kicks off Saturday in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide welcome Conference USA's Western Kentucky into Bryant-Denny Stadium for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff.

Alabama is coming off its first appearance in the College Football Playoff since 2021, where the Crimson Tide took the eventual national champion Michigan into overtime at the Rose Bowl before eventually losing 27-20. Jalen Milroe returns as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback after throwing for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.

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The Hilltoppers are coming off an 8-5 season last year, which ended in a win over Old Dominion in the Famous Toaster Bowl. Western Kentucky was projected to finish second in Conference USA this year in the conference's preseason media poll behind Liberty.

Saturday's contest will also mark the fourth time that Alabama has faced Western Kentucky quarterback TJ Finley, who has played at LSU, Auburn and Texas State each of the last three seasons. Alabama will look to move 4-0 against Finley and avoid its first season opener loss vs. an unranked opponent as a top 10 team since 2000 to UCLA.

Here's what to know on how to watch Alabama football take on Western Kentucky in DeBoer's debut with the Crimson Tide, including kick-off time, TV channel and streaming options and Alabama's 2024 schedule:

Watch Alabama vs. Western Kentucky football live with Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Alabama football vs. Western Kentucky on today? TV channel, streaming options

• TV channel: ESPN

• Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN will broadcast the first game of the Deboer era vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday. You can also stream Alabama vs. Western Kentucky on the ESPN app by logging in with your TV provider credentials or on Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to select users.

Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) will have the call on ESPN.

Alabama vs Western Kentucky time today

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31

• Time: 6 p.m. CT

The Crimson Tide and Hilltoppers are set to kick off on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. CT from Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama-Western Kentucky betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Aug. 28

• Spread: Alabama -31.5

• Over/under: 59.5

• Moneyline: Locked at time of writing

Alabama is currently a -31.5 point favorite against Western Kentucky (as of Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 1:40 p.m. CT). The over/under is set at 59.5 with moneyline odds unavailable.

Alabama football schedule 2024

Here's a look at the Crimson Tide's schedule for the 2024 season, including available kickoff and TV channel information:

All times Central.

• Saturday, Aug. 31: Alabama vs. Western Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

• Saturday, Sept. 7: Alabama vs. South Florida | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

• Saturday, Sept. 14: Alabama at Wisconsin | 11 a.m. | Fox (Fubo)

• Saturday, Sept. 21: BYE

• Saturday, Sept. 28: Alabama vs. No. 1 Georgia * | 6:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

• Saturday, Oct. 5: Alabama at Vanderbilt *

• Saturday, Oct. 12: Alabama vs. South Carolina | 11 a.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)

• Saturday, Oct. 19: Alabama at No. 15 Tennessee *

• Saturday, Oct. 26: Alabama vs. No. 11 Missouri *

• Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE

• Saturday, Nov. 9: Alabama at No. 12 LSU *

• Saturday, Nov. 16: Alabama vs. Mercer | 1 p.m. | ESPN+, SEC Network+

• Saturday, Nov. 23: Alabama at No. 16 Oklahoma *

• Saturday, Nov. 30: Alabama vs. Auburn *

* denotes SEC game

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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama-WKU today: Time, TV channel, streaming for Crimson Tide football opener