GAME NOTES: In what appears to be a major mismatch, the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC are set to host the Florida International Panthers of the Sun Belt Conference.

This game marks the season opener for Florida International, which also has defending national champion Florida on the non-conference schedule. The Golden Panthers took a giant step towards respectability last season, notching five victories after going just 1-23 over the prior two campaigns. Head coach Mario Cristobal played 20 true or redshirt freshmen last season and those young players produced and are now set to be the future of this up-and-coming program.

As for Alabama, it knocked off seventh-ranked Virginia Tech by a 34-24 final last Saturday to begin the season on a positive note. The victory was particularly impressive because the Tide needed to come from behind to knock off the talented Hokies.

"This team responded better to adversity in this game then we ever have," said coach Nick Saban. "I am especially proud of how the team played in the second half, especially the fourth quarter."

Last season, Saban led Alabama to an unexpected undefeated regular season, but a loss in the SEC Championship Game was followed by a defeat in the Sugar Bowl. Clearly, it was good to get back on track in the 2009 opener.

Alabama won its only previous meeting with FIU by a 38-3 final back in 2006.

FIU struggled mightily on the offensive side of the ball in 2007, but the team turned things around in 2008. With a slew of starters back in the fold, this unit should be even better this fall.

Leading the way for FIU under center will be Paul McCall, who played well down the stretch last season, throwing for 220 yards or more in seven of the final eight games. The 6-1, 205-pound McCall finished the season with 2,332 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns and he should easily surpass those numbers with a full year of experience under his belt.

"Paul is an extraordinary young man," said Cristobal. "He has been awesome for FIU and has strong passion for the university and the football program and he's helped to guide it in the right direction."

McCall will also surely benefit from the return of his top two wideouts in T.Y. Hilton and Greg Ellingson. Hilton broke onto the scene in 2008 and was named the SBC Freshman of the Year after leading FIU with 41 catches, a school-record 1,013 yards and seven scores. As for Ellingson, he is a completely different receiver than Hilton, using his 6-3, 200-pound frame to push around opposing corners. The junior finished second with 35 grabs, 574 yards and three scores last season.

The Panthers were solid on defense last season, limiting foes to 369.1 total ypg and recording 15 interceptions. The pass rush, however, was virtually nonexistent, and if FIU can improve in that area, this unit could be one of the best in the conference. Reggie Jones is a player who could be a factor in the pass rush against Alabama.

At linebacker, the Panthers have some experience and emerging talent, led by Scott Bryant. The 5-11, 224-pound senior has led the team in tackles in each of the past two seasons and he will be in contention for all-league honors in 2009.

"We have become bigger at linebacker through recruiting and through strength and conditioning," Cristobal said. "It's obviously a position where we need to be a lot more physical, and we will be."

The secondary really stepped up for FIU last season and that was in large part due to the play of Anthony Gaitor. The 5-10, 175-pound corner was a First Team All-SBC choice in 2008 after notching 44 tackles, five interceptions and 11 PBUs. He is a terrific all-around player and will once again be counted on heavily in the secondary. Jeremiah Weatherspoon (41 stops) and Ashlyn Parker (56 tackles) also return to their safety positions, giving FIU even more experience.

Last season, Mark Ingram was overshadowed a bit by Glen Coffee in the Alabama running game. That isn't the case anymore, as Ingram is the team's primary ball carrier and ran for 150 yards and a touchdown in the opener. He did get some help from Roy Upchurch, however, who exploded for 90 yards and a score on only seven attempts.

Greg McElroy, starting his first game under center for the Tide, connected on 15-of-30 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He was sacked twice and certainly has room to improve this weekend. Standout receiver Julio Jones made four catches for 46 yards.

Overall, Alabama finished with 498 total yards, including 268 yards on the ground against a team known for its tough defense. The Tide kept possession of the ball for over 37 minutes, a tribute to the running game.

"Everyone talks about our defense, but our offense can do it, too," said Ingram after the contest. "We just want to prove that to people."

Alabama was one of the best defensive teams in the nation a year ago, and it seems that will be the case again in 2009. The Tide were dominant against Virginia Tech, holding the Hokies to 155 total yards, including 64 rushing yards on 31 attempts. So how did Tech finish with 24 points considering the abysmal yardage total? Well, one of the three touchdowns came on a kickoff return, and the other two scores came on short drives.

There is no chance of an upset in this tilt, as Alabama is far too physical for FIU to contend with. Expect another big game from Ingram, who appears to be fine after getting banged up late against Virginia Tech.