If you’re waking up on this Thursday, January 15, 2026, and frantically searching for what time does the alabama football game start today, I have some news that might sting a little. Or a lot, depending on how much you bleed crimson.
Honestly? There is no game.
The Alabama Crimson Tide's 2025-2026 football season is officially in the books. It didn't end with a trophy, and it certainly didn't end the way Kalen DeBoer's squad envisioned when they were rolling through the early rounds of the expanded College Football Playoff.
The Rose Bowl Reality Check
The reason you aren't seeing a kickoff time for today is that Alabama's run hit a massive wall on New Year's Day. They traveled out to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl—a Playoff Quarterfinal matchup against a juggernaut No. 1 seed Indiana team.
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It was ugly.
Indiana, led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, basically dismantled Bama in a 38-3 rout. If you missed it, consider yourself lucky. The Tide's offense just couldn't find the end zone, and the defense spent way too much time on the field while Mendoza carved them up. That loss knocked Alabama out of the bracket, meaning they aren't playing in the National Championship next Monday, either.
Instead, that title game on January 19 will feature Indiana and Miami. Bama fans are currently in that weird "waiting for spring practice" limbo.
Wait, Is There Anything Else Today?
Now, if you saw "Alabama" and "Auburn" on a schedule for today, you aren't crazy. But you're looking at the wrong sport.
The Alabama Women’s Basketball team is actually playing their bitter rivals, the Auburn Tigers, tonight. That game tips off at 8:00 PM CT (9:00 PM ET) at Neville Arena. If you’re looking for a fix of the Iron Bowl rivalry in any capacity, that’s your move. You can catch that one on the SEC Network.
But for the football junkies? We’re officially in the offseason.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Alabama Football Schedule
Since there’s no game today, the next best thing is looking at when we can actually get back to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s a gauntlet.
The Tide starts the 2026 season on September 5th against East Carolina. It’s a home game, which is a nice way to break in whatever new faces emerge from the transfer portal this spring.
Here is what the early 2026 slate looks like:
- Sept. 5: East Carolina (Tuscaloosa)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky (Lexington)
- Sept. 19: Florida State (Tuscaloosa) — Keep an eye on this one.
- Sept. 26: South Carolina (Tuscaloosa)
The Florida State game in Week 3 is already being circled by everyone. It’s a massive non-conference test that will probably define the early-season vibe for DeBoer’s third year at the helm.
Why the Confusion Happens
It’s easy to get turned around with the new 12-team (and soon to be larger) playoff format. In the old days, if you weren't in the title game, you were done by January 2nd. Now, the season stretches so deep into January that fans naturally expect games to be happening every week.
But once you lose in the quarters, the lights go out.
What to Do Now
Since you won't be spending your afternoon tailgating or yelling at the TV during a kickoff, here is how you can actually stay productive in the "Bama-verse" today:
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- Check the Portal: January 15 is a prime window for the transfer portal. Keep an eye on local beat writers like those at AL.com or TideIllustrated. The roster for that September 5th opener is being built right now.
- Support the Hoops: Like I mentioned, the women’s team is playing Auburn tonight. The men’s basketball team is also in the thick of SEC play, and they’ve been a lot more fun to watch lately than that Rose Bowl performance was.
- Recruiting News: National Signing Day cycles are always moving. Check the latest commitments to see who is coming in to fix the holes we saw in the secondary during the Indiana game.
Basically, the answer to what time does the alabama football game start today is: it doesn't. We've got about 233 days until the real thing returns.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for next season, your best bet is to start looking at those September hotel rates in Tuscaloosa now. They only get more expensive from here.
Roll Tide, eventually.