For the first time in 18 years, Alabama opens a season ranked outside the AP preseason top 10 — and the No. 13 Crimson Tide seem to like it that way. Kalen DeBoer enters year three in Tuscaloosa with a chip on the program’s shoulder, a September revenge date against Florida State, and the SEC’s new nine-game conference gauntlet that sends Georgia, Texas A&M, and Auburn all through Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Kickoff times for most SEC games are announced 6-12 days out based on TV selections, so check back weekly — this page is updated as times, networks, and results come in.
Games That Will Decide Alabama’s Season
| Sept 19 vs Florida State | The rematch. FSU stunned Alabama in the 2025 opener, and the home half of the series doubles as the Tide’s required Power Four non-conference game. A statement here resets the national narrative. |
| Oct 10 vs Georgia | The biggest home game of the year. Alabama has owned this series lately, and with both teams in the top 15, the winner grabs the inside track in the SEC race. |
| Nov 7 at LSU | A trip to Death Valley at night against Lane Kiffin’s first LSU team. This rivalry now rotates instead of running annually, which makes the 2026 edition feel bigger. |
| Nov 28 vs Auburn | The Iron Bowl returns to Bryant-Denny. Win it and a playoff resume likely gets stamped; lose it and the whole season gets re-litigated in Tuscaloosa. |
How the Schedule Sets Up
The front half is friendlier than it looks: East Carolina, a road tune-up at Kentucky, then Florida State and South Carolina at home before October brings the meat grinder — Georgia in Tuscaloosa, the Third Saturday in October in Knoxville, and Texas A&M before a well-placed bye. The closing stretch (LSU, Vanderbilt on the road, then the Iron Bowl at home) will decide whether the Tide are hosting a playoff game or sweating the committee, and if you need a refresher on how that bracket works, here’s how the College Football Playoff works under the current format. The nine-game league schedule is part of the NCAA FBS landscape’s broader shift toward tougher, TV-friendly slates.
The Bottom Line
Seven home games, revenge on Sept 19, Georgia on Oct 10, and an Iron Bowl finale in Tuscaloosa — Alabama’s path back to the top 10 runs straight through Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bookmark this page — times, networks, and results are updated throughout the season.