How to watch Alabama vs Western Kentucky football game: FREE live stream, time, channel

Alabama plays its first game of the Kalen DeBoer era on Saturday as a heavy favorite at home against Western Kentucky. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) and will be televised on ESPN and streamed on demand.

• Here's how you can watch: Live streams of Alabama vs Western Kentucky are available with offerings from FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low introductory price), and DirecTV Stream (free trial).

Western Kentucky (0-0) at #5 Alabama (0-0)

NCAA football duels at a glance

When: Saturday, August 31, 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT)

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

TV channels: ESPN

Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low introductory price) | DirecTV Stream (free trial)

Alabama ended its incredible run under former coach Nick Saban in 2023 with a 12-2 record and a loss to eventual national champion Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals. That loss ended a remarkable streak of eight consecutive years with at least one postseason win under Saban, who concluded his 17-year run in Tuscaloosa with a 206-29 record, six national championships and three more title game appearances.

All of this is to say that Week 1 is significant for 'Bama, marking a tenure with high expectations that DeBoer said he welcomes after a good run of his own in two short seasons in Washington, teaming with first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. to a 27-3 record and reaching the national title game in 1923.

Western Kentucky is the underdog in this game, trailing by 34.5 points, an understandable position for a team heading to Tuscaloosa that is also coming off an 8-5 season and a 38-35 overtime win over Old Dominion in the prestigious Famous Toastery Bowl.

The Crimson Tide and Hilltoppers kick off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Live streams are available on FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), and SlingTV (low introductory price).