Alabama Football Season Preview: Biggest Opponents, Possible Upsets, and More

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer speaks in a press conference after the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. © Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAlabama Football is almost here. After months of waiting, fans will finally be able to see what Kalen DeBoer was able to cook up after losing Ty Simpson to the Los Angeles Rams. Switching quarterbacks is never easy, but successful programs have proven to be able to switch and find success the following season.

>2026 will test DeBoer’s abilities. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including a look at the most important games and where the coach’s unit may fall short.

Top 3 Biggest Opponents On Alabama’s ScheduleOne of the biggest games of the season is often the first game. The East Carolina Pirates will visit the Crimson Tide on Sept. 5. The game will set the tone for the first half of the season. A loss to start the year could take a month to wash out.

>The Tennessee Volunteers have been a tough out in recent years, with 9+ wins in three of the last four years. As such, expect a high-profile tussle on Oct. 17.

>LSU hasn’t been at the peak of its powers in recent years, but the high-profile school will get national coverage when it takes on Alabama. Expect the national tone to shift depending on how the game goes.

3 Games Where Kalen DeBoer’s Squad Will Fall ShortThree games will push Kalen DeBoer past his limit. The first will be the Georgia Bulldogs, a program that has been the definition of excellence in the regular season over the past five years. Expect DeBoer to come up short.

>Texas A&M won’t be an easy out, either. The school is on the uptick with a 19-7 record since Mike Elko took over, and a loss is likely.

One sneaky game that could force the team to fall short in terms of winning by a hair instead of by a mile is the Vanderbilt Commodores. After running through the gauntlet of teams from Oct. 10 through Nov. 7, Alabama will either be exhausted or thrilled. Both feelings could trickle into the final game of the stretch against a program that finished 10-3 with a quarterback who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft.

OverviewOverall, expect a fast start from Alabama, but the rubber will meet the road in October with perhaps one of the toughest stretches in college football. If Alabama doesn’t turn the page quickly away from Ty Simpson, it could be a long season. Here’s a look at the full schedule via ESPN.

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