--RB Mark Ingram revealed Tuesday that he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and would not play in Alabama's season opener. According to the Mobile Press-Register, Ingram could miss as many as three games.

--As expected, Alabama opened the season as the consensus No. 1 team in the country, receiving the lion's share of votes in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. It's Alabama's highest preseason ranking since 1978, which ended with a national championship.

--Saturday's game will be the first for fans in a newly renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium. The stadium now seats 101,821, making it one of the five largest on-campus football stadiums in the nation. The expansion is the fourth expansion since 1988 and the seventh expansion in the stadium's history.

--The big question hanging over Alabama heading into its season opener will be answered on the first defensive series.

Will DE Marcell Dareus play?

Dareus has been linked to attending a party this offseason that may or may not have been funded by professional sports agents. Alabama has been mum to comment on Dareus' status and coach Nick Saban has yet to confirm whether or not Dareus would be available against San Jose State.

SERIES HISTORY
First meeting.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
If anything, this unit promises to be better than the efficient group that was overshadowed by the defense in 2009. QB Greg McElroy still has yet to lose a football game since eighth grade and provides uncanny leadership at the position. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is back at tailback, but isn't expected to carry the load as much as he did in 2009. Sophomore Trent Richardson was named a preseason first-team All-SEC selection for good reason. He's expected to get plenty of carries, which will likely allow both players to stay fresh throughout the course of the season. Wide receivers Julio Jones and Marquis Maze will provide McElroy with two big targets, while the offensive line isn't expected to miss a beat.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
This unit lost a lot from last year's championship run, but the group Nick Saban will boast in 2010 won't be that youthful. According to a depth chart released Monday, Alabama's starting defense will include two seniors, six juniors and three sophomores. If that starting lineup holds for Saturday, it will mark just the second time in the last five seasons that Alabama has not started a true freshman in the season opener. One key returnee is featured in each defensive area. Marcell Dareus is considered a top NFL prospect as a defensive end in Alabama's 3-4 scheme. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower received loads of preseason recognition despite playing in just four games last season because of a torn ACL. Safety Mark Barron leads a largely inexperienced secondary.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"A lot of the players that have been there show no signs of not paying attention to detail, not working to improve. I think the bigger concern is the maturity of the guys who haven't had the responsibility to this point, how they're going to respond to it. I'm sure that there will be a maturing process that goes with their first game. How much they learn and grow from it is probably going to determine how quickly we can improve." -- Coach Nick Saban.

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