Alabama Football 2026 Schedule: Full Breakdown and Analysis

The Good

Four of the first five games are against teams that weren't bowl eligible last year - yes, Mississippi State did end up getting the call - and there aren't any road dates against teams that finished with a winning record until October 17th.

The back-to-back road games come after a week off, five games overall are against teams that were bowl eligible, the showdowns against Georgia and Texas A&M are in Tuscaloosa, and ... 

The Bad

There's not much to complain about, but Tennessee and LSU are on the road as part of a run of three road games in four dates.

Considering East Carolina is talented, there isn't a rock-solid scrimmage game until late against Chattanooga - Alabama beat ULM in Week 2 last year - and the Florida State game is early on. 

What SEC Teams Alabama Will Miss

Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas.

No Oklahoma, Ole Miss, or Texas - take that deal in a heartbeat. It would've been nice to have had Arkansas on the slate, but missing Florida and Missouri isn't bad.

Arkansas’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026

Best Case: There aren't any home slips

The Crimson Tide might not be dominant, but they get through September without taking a breath.

Florida State and South Carolina are wins, and then comes October. Bama takes care of Georgia and Texas A&M, at least splits the road dates against Tennessee and LSU, and, of course, Auburn is a light and breezy blowout.

Worst Case: There's an early misfire

Alabama got away with Week 1 loss to Florida State last year, but this time around, an early loss is a killer.

It's either against Florida State or South Carolina - or at Kentucky - and then comes the midseason run that really will be a "gauntlet." 

The Tide drop at least two of the four against Georgia, at Tennessee, Texas A&M, and at LSU, and that's it. No SEC Championship, no College Football Playoff, and ...

There's a coaching search after a loss to Auburn.

Alabama Football 2026 Schedule

Sept 5 East Carolina
Sept 12 at Kentucky
Sept 19 Florida State
Sept 26 South Carolina
Oct 3 at Mississippi State
Oct 10 Georgia
Oct 17 at Tennessee
Oct 24 Texas A&M
Oct 31 OPEN DATE
Nov 7 at LSU
Nov 14 at Vanderbilt
Nov 21 Chattanooga
Nov 28 Auburn

Games That Will Decide Alabama’s Season

1. Georgia, Oct. 10
The win over the Bulldogs last season got Alabama to the SEC Championship - and then came the loss in the rematch, which didn't matter in the playoff chase. Win this, and it makes everything easier.

2. at Tennessee, Oct. 17
Coming off the Georgia game, and with Texas A&M and at LSU next, winning in Knoxville for the first time since 2020 matters.

3. Texas A&M, Oct. 24
Yes, of course, in terms of big wins, Auburn is it, but for the overall goal of the SEC title and a College Football Playoff berth, getting by the Aggies is a bigger step ... until facing Auburn. Bama has won ten of the last 11 over the Aggies.