The new helmet communication was off to a rocky start at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Starting this season, the NCAA allowed teams to use helmet communications. One player on each side of the ball can use the comms system to communicate with one coach.

But Western Kentucky’s didn’t work on Saturday to start the game against Alabama football, the officials announced over the public address system. So by rule, the Crimson Tide couldn’t use its helmet communications either.

That meant it was back to hand signals, like past seasons, in order to tell the offense and defense what to run.

But ESPN said on the broadcast the helmet comms were working after a few minutes.

The helmet communications are something that Alabama has been practicing all offseason, including in scrimmages.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.