Alabama Football on TV Today: Why Everyone Is Watching the Transfer Portal Instead

Alabama Football on TV Today: Why Everyone Is Watching the Transfer Portal Instead

If you’re flipping through channels looking for Alabama football on tv today, I’ve got a bit of a reality check for you. There isn’t a game. It’s mid-January. The pads are in storage, and Bryant-Denny Stadium is quiet, save for the construction crews and the occasional tour group. Honestly, if you see "Alabama" and "Football" on a broadcast schedule right now, it’s probably a rerun of a classic game on ESPNU or a very intense women's basketball matchup on the SEC Network.

Actually, there is one specific thing happening on the tube today. The #20 Alabama women's basketball team is hosting #19 Tennessee at 2:00 PM ET on the SEC Network. If you’re a die-hard Tide fan, that’s your fix. But for the gridiron? The season is over. The 2025 campaign ended on a sour note in Pasadena, and now we’re in the thick of what some people call the "second season"—the transfer portal and roster rebuilding.

What Happened to the Crimson Tide?

The 2025 season was a rollercoaster. Kalen DeBoer took this team to an 11-4 record, which, let's be real, is a "down year" by the impossible standards Nick Saban left behind. We saw some magic, though. That first-round playoff win against Oklahoma? 34-24. Ty Simpson looked like the truth, throwing for 232 yards and finding Lotzeir Brooks for two scores. Brooks hadn’t even scored in the regular season, then he basically became the MVP of the playoff opener.

Then came the Rose Bowl on January 1st.

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Indiana happened. A 38-3 loss is a tough pill to swallow. It was the kind of game where nothing worked, and it left fans wondering what the 2026 version of this team is going to look like. Since then, the TV coverage has shifted from the field to the "war room."

The Roster Reconstruction: Who’s Staying and Who’s Going?

While there’s no live Alabama football on tv today, the news ticker is moving fast. If you’ve been following the portal, you know it’s been a bit of a chaotic month. The spring portal window was actually eliminated back in September, so all the big moves are happening right now.

Just today, we got some massive news on the defensive side of the ball. Safety Keon Sabb and linebacker Yhonzae Pierre announced they’re coming back for 2026. This is huge. Pierre led the team in sacks last year, and having that veteran presence is vital when you’re losing guys like LT Overton and Tim Keenan to the NFL or graduation.

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Recent Transfers and Commits

  • Desmond Umeozulu: The Tide just landed this edge rusher from South Carolina. He’s 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. That’s a lot of athlete coming off the bus.
  • Racin Delgatty: A center from Cal Poly. Why do we care? Because Alabama is replacing almost the entire starting offensive line. Delgatty allowed zero sacks in 22 games.
  • Maurice Mathis Jr.: A late recruiting flip who committed today. He’s a wide receiver from Georgia who had over 1,200 yards in high school this past year.

The wide receiver room is actually a bit of a concern. We lost Germie Bernard (eligibility) and a handful of guys to the portal, including Isaiah Horton and Jalen Hale. Ryan Williams will be a junior, and the pressure on him to be "The Guy" is going to be astronomical.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule

If you're already planning your Saturdays for the fall, the 2026 schedule is out. It’s a gauntlet. No more easy "cupcake" Septembers.

The season kicks off on September 5th against East Carolina, but the real fireworks start on September 19th when Florida State comes to Tuscaloosa. After that, it's a relentless SEC slate: Georgia at home in October, a trip to Tennessee, and the usual Iron Bowl finale against Auburn on November 28th.

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The TV networks (ABC, ESPN, and SEC Network) won't announce the specific kickoff times for these games until the summer, but you can bet that Florida State and Georgia games will be in the prime-time "window."

Actionable Steps for Bama Fans Today

Since you can't watch the Tide play a game today, here is how you can actually stay ahead of the curve:

  1. Watch the NFL Playoffs: There are two divisional games today (Texans at Patriots and Rams at Bears). Check out the former Bama stars like Jahmyr Gibbs or Bryce Young if their teams are still in it. It’s basically Alabama Pro-Day on a national stage.
  2. Monitor the Recruiting Wire: Today is a big day for late-cycle commitments. Keep an eye on "Bama Hammer" or "Roll Tide Wire" for live updates on high school seniors making their final decisions.
  3. Check the Basketball Score: Support the ladies at 2:00 PM. It’s a ranked matchup, and the SEC Network coverage is usually pretty solid.
  4. Set Your Calendar for the A-Day Game: Usually held in mid-April, this will be your first chance to see the new-look roster on TV. It’s typically broadcast on ESPN or the SEC Network.

The "Alabama football on tv today" search might lead to a dead end for live games, but the program never actually sleeps. The decisions being made in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility today are what determine whether we’re back in the National Championship hunt this time next year.

Keep your eyes on the transfer portal—that's where the real "game" is being played right now.