Alabama’s 2026 football schedule is set, and it’s a slate built around one of the toughest home stretches Kalen DeBoer has faced yet as head coach. The Crimson Tide will play 12 regular-season games — seven in Tuscaloosa and five on the road — with marquee matchups against Georgia, Texas A&M, and Auburn all coming to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Below is the complete schedule, confirmed by Alabama Athletics, along with kickoff windows and TV info for every game.
Full 2026 Alabama Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Network | Kickoff Window (CT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | East Carolina | Home | ABC | 11 a.m. |
| Sept. 12 | at Kentucky | Away | ABC | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 19 | Florida State | Home | ABC | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 26 | South Carolina | Home | TBA | Night |
| Oct. 3 | at Mississippi State | Away | TBA | Early |
| Oct. 10 | Georgia | Home | TBA | Night |
| Oct. 17 | at Tennessee | Away | TBA | Flex |
| Oct. 24 | Texas A&M | Home | TBA | Flex |
| Oct. 31 | Open Date | — | — | — |
| Nov. 7 | at LSU | Away | TBA | Flex |
| Nov. 14 | at Vanderbilt | Away | TBA | Early |
| Nov. 21 | Chattanooga | Home | SEC Network+ | 1 p.m. |
| Nov. 28 | Auburn | Home | TBA | Flex |
Kickoff windows: Early = 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CT, Afternoon = 2:30–3:30 p.m. CT, Night = 5–7 p.m. CT, Flex = announced 6–12 days before kickoff. Several networks and exact times remain TBA and are assigned by the SEC and ESPN closer to game week — check back for updates as they’re confirmed.
Why there’s no Week 9 game
Alabama’s Oct. 31 open date is the Tide’s only bye week in 2026. It falls right in the middle of the schedule, between home games against Texas A&M and a road trip to LSU — a natural breather before the toughest three-game road stretch of the season.
Home Games at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Alabama hosts seven games in Tuscaloosa in 2026:
- East Carolina (Sept. 5) — season opener, first-ever ECU visit to Tuscaloosa
- Florida State (Sept. 19) — closes out the home-and-home series between the two programs
- South Carolina (Sept. 26)
- Georgia (Oct. 10) — the Bulldogs’ first Tuscaloosa trip since 2024
- Texas A&M (Oct. 24) — Alabama’s Homecoming game
- Chattanooga (Nov. 21)
- Auburn (Nov. 28) — the Iron Bowl
Road Games Breakdown
Alabama’s five true road games in 2026:
- at Kentucky (Sept. 12) — first trip to Lexington since 2023
- at Mississippi State (Oct. 3) — resuming the series after a two-year break
- at Tennessee (Oct. 17) — the annual Third Saturday of October rivalry game in Knoxville
- at LSU (Nov. 7) — in Baton Rouge, a series Alabama has played every year since the 1960s
- at Vanderbilt (Nov. 14) — in Nashville
Key Matchups to Watch
- Georgia (Oct. 10, home): Alabama beat Georgia 41-34 in Tuscaloosa in 2024, and the Bulldogs return to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time since that game.
- Tennessee (Oct. 17, at Knoxville): A perennial October rivalry that has swung the SEC East/West and playoff picture in recent years.
- LSU (Nov. 7, at Baton Rouge): One of the oldest continuous series in the SEC, and historically one of Alabama’s most physical road tests.
- Auburn (Nov. 28, home): The Iron Bowl closes the regular season, as it does every year.
The 2026 Iron Bowl
Alabama hosts Auburn on Nov. 28, 2026, closing the regular season at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Iron Bowl is one of the sport’s most storied rivalries, and recent history has strongly favored the Tide at home in this series.
SEC Championship Game Path
If Alabama wins the SEC West (or otherwise qualifies under the SEC’s championship format), the Tide would play in the 2026 SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That game determines the SEC’s automatic path into the College Football Playoff field.
How to Watch Alabama Football in 2026
Alabama’s 2026 games are broadcast primarily on ABC and the SEC Network, with several late-season games airing on SEC Network+ or receiving Flex scheduling, meaning the exact time and network are confirmed six to twelve days before kickoff. Fans should check Alabama Athletics’ official schedule page or the SEC’s broadcast schedule as each game week approaches for the most current network and start time.
What Could Still Change
A few things to watch heading into the season:
- Flex-scheduled games (Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn) won’t have a locked kickoff time until 6–12 days before the game.
- TBA networks for several SEC games will be finalized closer to kickoff by the SEC and ESPN.
- Alabama’s home-and-home with Oklahoma State was canceled in 2026, which is why it does not appear on this schedule — worth noting if you see older previews referencing that matchup.
FAQs
When does Alabama football play its first game in 2026? Alabama opens its 2026 season at home against East Carolina on Sept. 5.
How many home games does Alabama play in 2026? Alabama plays seven home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2026: East Carolina, Florida State, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas A&M, Chattanooga, and Auburn.
When is the 2026 Iron Bowl? Alabama hosts Auburn in the 2026 Iron Bowl on Nov. 28 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Does Alabama have a bye week in 2026? Yes. Alabama’s only open date in 2026 is Oct. 31, between the Texas A&M and LSU games.
When and where is the 2026 SEC Championship Game? The 2026 SEC Championship Game is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
What channel is Alabama football on in 2026? Alabama’s early-season games are confirmed on ABC, with additional games airing on SEC Network and SEC Network+; several later-season games remain TBA or Flex-scheduled pending SEC and ESPN announcements closer to kickoff.
Is Alabama still playing Oklahoma State in 2026? No. Alabama’s home-and-home series with Oklahoma State was canceled, so Oklahoma State does not appear on the 2026 schedule.
Conclusion
Alabama’s 2026 schedule sets up a season defined by its back-loaded gauntlet — Georgia and Texas A&M at home in October, then Tennessee, LSU, and Vanderbilt on the road before the Iron Bowl closes things out. With kickoff times and TV networks still being finalized for several late-season games, this page will need periodic updates as the SEC and ESPN confirm the remaining details — but the full slate of opponents and dates is locked in.
External Authority Source Suggestions
- Alabama Athletics — Official 2026 Alabama Football Schedule
- Alabama’s 2026 Football Schedule Released — Alabama Athletics: https://rolltide.com/news/2025/12/11/alabamas-2026-football-schedule-released
- Game Times, Networks Announced for Football’s 2026 Season — Alabama Athletics: https://rolltide.com/news/2026/6/10/game-times-networks-announced-for-footballs-2026-season
- 2026 Alabama Crimson Tide Regular Season Schedule — ESPN: https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/333/alabama-crimson-tide
- 2026 Football Schedule: Alabama — SEC Sports: https://www.secsports.com/fbsched26-alabama
