The 2026 Alabama football season is just a week away as Kalen DeBoer enters his third season in Tuscaloosa. For better or worse, this is finally fully DeBoer's team. Alabama flipped the roster in a major way this offseason, hitting the Transfer Portal harder than ever before and building the team fully in his image.
Alabama recently named sophomore phenom Keelon Russell the starting QB, and with that has brought increased expectations nationally. Before that, Alabama was flying under the radar more than they have in a long time.
There are some legitimate question marks on this roster, but there's a lot of optimism within the program that the Crimson Tide plugged the gaps from last season and are ready to make a serious push back toward national title contention.
Predicting Alabama football's 2026 regular season game-by-game
Alabama opens the 2026 season at home against a quality Group-of-Six opponent in East Carolina. The Pirates will bring an experienced QB in Texas Tech transfer Mitch Griffis, who was part of Bryce Young's 2020 recruiting class.
ECU won't be a pushover, but there's still a large talent difference in this matchup, and you have to figure Alabama is going to come into it with a point to prove.
Russell has a big day in his first career start, putting the nation on immediate notice,
Pick: Alabama 41, East Carolina 10
Record: 1-0
Week 2 brings an immediate test as Alabama opens SEC play on the road against Kentucky. The Wildcats are in rebuild mode, but Will Stein brings a confidence to the sidelines in Lexington that is difficult to ignore.
Stein will be looking for an early signature win, and Russell's first road start won't be a cakewalk. But look for Alabama's running game (shocking, I know) to make a statement as 5-star freshman EJ Crowell makes his debut and makes an immediate statement with a long touchdown run.
A close game at halftime, but Alabama pulls away in the second half.
Pick: Alabama 35, Kentucky 17
Record: 2-0 (1-0)
You have to figure this game is circled on the calendar for every Alabama player who remembers the embarrassment in Tallahassee to open last season. The Crimson Tide will be better prepared for this game against a QB they know all too well in Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels.
This game turns into a laugher and is the beginning of the end for the Mike Norvell era at Florida State.
Pick: Alabama 38, Florida State 10
Record: 3-0 (1-0)
For the second straight week, Alabama faces an opponent with a coach on the hot seat and in serious need of a statement win. DeBoer and Alabama have escaped with close wins over South Carolina in each of the last two seasons. Even with some serious question marks on the roster, the Gameocks are still dangerous with star QB LaNorris Sellers and elite edge rusher Dylan Stewart.
This won't be an easy game, even in Tuscaloosa, but Russell makes some big plays to help Alabama get to a 4-0 start.
Pick: Alabama 31, South Carolina 21
Record: 4-0 (2-0)
Most people believe that Alabama needs to start 5-0 to have a serious shot at the playoff. Following this game, the Crimson Tide embarks on a brutal four-game stretch that will decide the season.
This feels like a big-time trap game for Alabama with Georgia looming the following week at Bryant-Denny. I think Mississippi State might be one of the surprise teams in the SEC in 2026, and I'm high on QB Kamario Taylor.
This one feels like a stunning upset that has the college football world - and Alabama fans - back to being sour on DeBoer, for one week at least.
Pick: Mississippi State 27, Alabama 24
Record: 4-1 (2-1)
Limping in after the upset the week before in Starkville, Alabama faces Georgia at home with a point to prove. Needing a bounce-back from the loss to Mississippi State and looking for revenge from an embarrassing three-touchdown loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game last December, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide put together their best performance of the young season.
Russell slices up the Georgia defense, and Kane Wommack's defense comes up with a key late turnover to seal the deal and push DeBoer to a 3-1 mark against Kirby Smart.
Pick: Alabama 30, Georgia 24
Record: 5-1 (3-1)
No rest for the weary as Alabama takes on Tennessee in Knoxville the week after facing Georgia at home. This will be a fascinating battle between two of the best young QBs in the country, with Russell and Tennessee's freshman star Faizon Brandon, a 5-star recruit from the 2026 class.
Alabama has lost the last two meetings at Neyland Stadium. In the return of a rivalry staple with both sides wearing home uniforms, the Crimson Tide walks into Knoxville and lights up cigars and sings Rocky Top all night long.
Pick: Alabama 35, Tennessee 21
Record: 6-1 (4-1)
The third of the four-game gauntlet, Alabama returns home to face Mike Elko and Texas A&M as the Aggies look to make a push for a second straight playoff bid. With the way A&M has been recruiting, it's only a matter of time before they are a legitimate National Championship contender.
Alas, that feels like it's still a year away. A&M will push the Crimson Tide, even in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama comes out with a close win to position itself well in the College Football Playoff race.
Pick: Alabama 24, Texas A&M 20
Record: 7-1 (5-1)
Coming off a much-needed bye week, DeBoer takes Alabama to the usually friendly confines of Death Valley in Baton Rouge. DeBoer is 2-0 against LSU, but this will be the most difficult challenge yet, as a motivated Lane Kiffin will lead the Tigers against the Crimson Tide.
Kiffin undoubtedly has this game circled, and he will throw everything he has at it to try to get the win. In Baton Rouge, LSU edges Alabama to put the Crimson Tide on the brink in the playoff chase.
Pick: LSU 33, Alabama 27
Record: 7-2 (5-2)
This will be a sneaky challenging game for Alabama with a second straight road game, especially if the trip to Baton Rouge ended in a defeat.
Alabama's last trip to Nashville two years ago came with a stunning upset. It was the Tide's first loss to the 'Dores in 40 years. This time, there's no Diego Pavia for Vanderbilt, and Alabama will get the win in Nashville to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 17
Record: 8-2 (6-2)
In the annual FCS cupcake game before the Iron Bowl, Alabama won't have much trouble against Chattanooga. The Crimson Tide rolls to an easy win, setting up a win-and-in scenario in the Iron Bowl for the second straight season.
Pick: Alabama 56, Chattanooga 0
Record: 9-2 (6-2)
First-year Auburn coach Alex Golesh will be trying to put a punctuation mark on his debut year with an Iron Bowl win in Tuscaloosa. He won't get it. Auburn hasn't beaten Alabama at Bryant-Denny since 2010, and hasn't won an Iron Bowl, period, since 2019.
Alabama extends its Iron Bowl streak to seven in a row, punching its ticket to the CFP at the same time.
Pick: Alabama 34, Auburn 17
Record: 10-2 (7-2)
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