If you’re staring at your calendar wondering who does alabama play next, you've probably noticed things look a little different in Tuscaloosa lately. We aren't in the Nick Saban era anymore, and the schedule reflects a brand-new world of 16-team super-conferences and a 9-game SEC slate.
Honestly, the 2025 season just wrapped up with a bit of a sting after that Rose Bowl loss to Indiana on New Year's Day. Now, it's mid-January 2026. The transfer portal is humming, Kalen DeBoer is retooling the roster, and everyone is already looking ahead to the fall.
The short answer? Alabama’s next meaningful game isn't until September 5, 2026, when they host East Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The 2026 schedule is a gauntlet that feels fundamentally different from the "old" SEC. We’ve got Florida State coming to town, a trip to Death Valley, and a mid-October showdown with Georgia that’s already circled in red.
💡 You might also like: My Teams Fantasy Football: Why Your Roster Construction is Probably Killing Your Season
The Immediate Future: East Carolina and the September Slate
After a long offseason of speculating about who’s staying and who’s hitting the portal, the season opener against East Carolina on September 5 serves as the soft launch for a very difficult year.
Most fans expect a blowout, but remember: ECU is replacing West Virginia on the schedule after that series was scrapped. It's a tune-up, sure. But week two is where the real "Welcome to 2026" moment happens.
On September 12, the Tide travels to Lexington to face Kentucky. It’s the earliest SEC road game Alabama has played since 2007. It’s weird, right? Usually, we’re playing a non-conference cupcake in week two, but the new 9-game SEC requirement means the stakes get high before the leaves even start to turn.
Then, things get spicy.
September 19 brings the Florida State Seminoles to Tuscaloosa. This is the back end of the home-and-home that started in Tallahassee in 2025. Even if FSU is having a "down" cycle, a night game at Bryant-Denny against a Power 4 brand like that is always a massive recruiting weekend.
The Meat of the 2026 Schedule
If you make it through September unscathed, October is a literal minefield.
On October 3, Bama heads to Starkville. It’s the return of the Mississippi State rivalry after a brief hiatus. You’ve gotta love the cowbells, or at least pretend to for the sake of the tradition.
The real heavyweight fight happens on October 10 against Georgia.
It’s becoming a yearly tradition at this point, which is wild considering we used to go half a decade without seeing Kirby Smart in the regular season. Playing Georgia three years in a row (2024, 2025, and now 2026) has basically turned this into a "new" rivalry that carries playoff implications every single time.
Here is the month-by-month breakdown of the 2026 season:
September
- Sept 5: East Carolina (Home)
- Sept 12: at Kentucky (Away)
- Sept 19: Florida State (Home)
- Sept 26: South Carolina (Home)
October
- Oct 3: at Mississippi State (Away)
- Oct 10: Georgia (Home)
- Oct 17: at Tennessee (Away)
- Oct 24: Texas A&M (Home)
- Oct 31: BYE WEEK
November
- Nov 7: at LSU (Away)
- Nov 14: at Vanderbilt (Away)
- Nov 21: Chattanooga (Home)
- Nov 28: Auburn (Home)
Why the 9-Game SEC Schedule Matters
For years, the SEC stuck to eight conference games. It allowed for "Cupcake Saturday" in November. That’s mostly dead now.
By playing nine conference games, Alabama had to drop traditional non-conference series (like the one with West Virginia) to make room. The result? Texas A&M is back on the schedule on October 24.
The Aggies haven't been to Tuscaloosa since 2022. It feels like a lifetime ago. Having them back in the rotation alongside Georgia and Tennessee means there is zero room for error. One bad Saturday in October could legitimately knock a team out of the SEC Championship race before November even starts.
The Rivalry Games: Tennessee and Auburn
The Third Saturday in October stays right where it belongs. On October 17, Bama goes to Neyland Stadium. Knoxville is always a nightmare, but in 2026, the Vols are expected to be deep in the mix for a playoff spot.
Then there’s the Iron Bowl.
November 28 is the date. Auburn comes to Tuscaloosa. While the Tide has dominated lately, the Iron Bowl in a 16-team SEC carries a different kind of weight. It’s not just about bragging rights; it’s about seeding in the 12-team (or potentially expanded) College Football Playoff.
Navigating the Transfer Portal and Recruiting
Since it's currently January 2026, the real game is being played in the transfer portal.
We’ve seen some heavy hits recently. Guys like Isaiah Horton and Wilkin Formby entering the portal after the Rose Bowl loss definitely hurt the depth chart. But Kalen DeBoer isn't sitting still.
He just landed Kaden Strayhorn, a center from Michigan who should anchor the line for the next few years. Plus, the 2026 recruiting class is ranked in the top five, featuring 5-star studs like Ezavier Crowell at running back and Xavier Griffin on the edge.
The team you see on the field against East Carolina in September will look significantly different from the one that ended the 2025 season. That’s just the nature of the sport now. It’s a constant churn of talent.
Key Dates to Watch
If you’re a season ticket holder or just someone who likes to plan their Saturdays around the TV schedule, keep these points in mind:
- The Bye Week is late. October 31 is the only Saturday off. This means the team has to play eight straight weeks of high-intensity football before getting a breather. That’s a massive test of depth.
- The LSU game is on the road. November 7 in Baton Rouge is always the hardest environment in sports. Following a bye week, Alabama will have two weeks to prepare for whatever Lane Kiffin or the LSU staff has cooked up.
- The Non-Conference Buffer. Chattanooga on November 21 is the only "easy" game in the second half of the season. It’s the traditional breather before the Iron Bowl.
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Outlook
Basically, the 2026 schedule is one of the toughest Alabama has faced in decades. Moving to nine conference games while still playing a Power 4 opponent like Florida State leaves no room for a "bad" week.
👉 See also: Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints: What Most People Get Wrong
If you're trying to figure out who does alabama play next, just remember that the "next" game is always the one happening in the transfer portal or on the recruiting trail. But as far as the turf is concerned, all roads lead to September 5 against East Carolina.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the spring game in April. That will be the first real look at how the 2026 roster is shaping up under DeBoer’s continued rebuild. Make sure your SEC Network subscription is active, because with the new conference alignment, every game from week two onward is basically a playoff elimination game.
Check the official Roll Tide website for kickoff times as they are announced later this summer—usually, the 12-day window is when we get the final word on whether a game is a 2:30 PM CBS (now ABC) kickoff or a night game under the lights.