Alabama football fans are a different breed. You probably woke up, grabbed your favorite worn-out "Roll Tide" hoodie, and immediately wondered if it's game day. But if you’re looking for a kickoff time for Sunday, January 18, 2026, I have some news that might sting a little.
Alabama is not playing football today. It feels weird, right? Normally, this time of year is reserved for deep playoff runs or national title hunts. But for the 2025-26 postseason, the Crimson Tide’s journey officially came to a halt a few weeks ago. While the NFL is currently dominating the Sunday airwaves with Divisional Playoff matchups, the college world is quiet today.
The Reality of the 2026 Postseason
Honestly, it's been a wild ride. Alabama actually made it into the expanded College Football Playoff this year as a 9-seed. They traveled to Pasadena for a New Year's Day clash at the Rose Bowl against the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers.
Most people expected the Tide to pull off the "SEC pedigree" upset. It didn't happen. Indiana—led by Curt Cignetti in a season for the history books—managed to outlast Alabama, ending the Tide's hopes for another trophy. Because that quarterfinal loss happened on January 1st, Alabama's locker rooms are currently empty. The players are likely back in Tuscaloosa, hitting the books or the weight room, while the fans are left watching the pros.
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Who is playing instead?
If you're still itching for a football fix today, you'll have to look toward the NFL. Today, Sunday, January 18, features two massive professional games:
- The Houston Texans are taking on the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET.
- The Los Angeles Rams face the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET.
As for the college level, there is only one game left on the entire calendar. Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, is the CFP National Championship. It’s an unlikely matchup: Indiana vs. Miami. If you’re a Bama fan, it might be a "watch with the volume off" kind of night, seeing the team that knocked you out play for the title in Miami Gardens.
Is Alabama Playing Football Today? Looking Ahead to 2026
Since there's no game today, the focus shifts to the future. And the 2026 schedule is already looking like a gauntlet. The SEC has officially moved to a nine-game conference schedule, which means the margin for error is getting thinner than a blade of grass at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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You’ve got a massive home opener against East Carolina on September 5th to look forward to. But the real drama starts just a week later. Alabama travels to Lexington to face Kentucky on September 12th. That's the earliest conference game for the Tide since 2007. Basically, there’s no "tune-up" period this time around.
Key Dates for the 2026 Season
- September 19: Florida State comes to Tuscaloosa. This is a massive non-conference revenge opportunity.
- October 10: Georgia at home. This game usually decides who controls the SEC, and 2026 won't be any different.
- October 17: The Third Saturday in October. Bama heads to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
- November 28: The Iron Bowl. Auburn visits Bryant-Denny Stadium to close out the regular season.
Why the Schedule Feels Different Now
The college football landscape has shifted so much that "is Alabama playing football today" is a question that pops up in January more often than it used to. With the 12-team playoff format, teams play longer seasons. If Alabama had won that Rose Bowl game, they would have played in the Peach Bowl on January 9th.
The fact that they aren't on the field today isn't a sign of a "down" program—it’s just the reality of how hard it is to survive a three-round playoff system.
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The transfer portal also just closed its winter window on January 16th. While there's no game on TV, the coaches are probably more stressed today than they are on a Saturday in October. They’re busy finalizing the roster and making sure the "next man up" philosophy holds firm for the spring.
Actionable Steps for Tide Fans Today
Since you can't watch the Tide play today, here is how you can stay prepared for the upcoming season:
- Check the 2026 Recruiting Class: National Signing Day and the portal movement have changed the roster significantly. Look up the latest commits to see who will be replacing the departing seniors.
- Monitor the NFL Playoffs: Several former Alabama stars like Bryce Young, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Will Anderson Jr. are often deep in the NFL postseason. Watching the Sunday games is basically a "Bama in the Pros" highlight reel.
- Plan Your 2026 Travel: With seven home games on the 2026 schedule, including Georgia and Auburn, tickets are going to be a nightmare to find. If you aren't on the TIDE PRIDE waiting list, now is the time to check your status at RollTide.com.
The wait for September feels long, but the work for the next championship is already happening behind the scenes in Tuscaloosa. Mark your calendars for September 5, 2026—that's the next time the Million Dollar Band will be taking the field for real.