If you are looking for the kickoff time to watch the Tide roll tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026, the answer is actually a bit of a gut punch for the die-hard fan base. There is no Alabama Crimson Tide football game tomorrow.
Wait. Let me explain before you throw your remote.
I know, it feels like mid-January should be prime playoff territory. Historically, it is. But the 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) cycle has been a wild ride, and for Kalen DeBoer's squad, the road ended a bit earlier than most of Tuscaloosa expected. If you're checking your calendar and seeing the CFP National Championship is coming up on Monday, January 19, you're right. But Alabama won't be in it.
The Reality of the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Game Tomorrow
The search for what time is the Alabama Crimson Tide football game tomorrow usually peaks when fans are hoping for a late-round playoff surge. This year, the Tide's postseason journey concluded on New Year's Day.
Alabama entered the expanded 12-team playoff as the No. 9 seed. They actually started off strong, traveling to Norman and knocking off No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 in the First Round on December 19. That win set up a massive Quarterfinal date at the Rose Bowl.
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On January 1, 2026, Alabama faced the No. 1 seeded Indiana Hoosiers in Pasadena. It was... not pretty. Indiana dominated the line of scrimmage and handed the Tide a 38-3 loss. That defeat officially shuttered the 2025-26 campaign for Alabama.
Why the January 16 Date is Tricky
Tomorrow, January 16, 2026, is a Friday. In the current CFP format, the semifinals were played on January 8 and January 9.
- January 8: No. 10 Miami defeated No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
- January 9: No. 1 Indiana crushed No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
Because those games are already in the books, the only college football left on the 2025-26 schedule is the National Championship game. That’s between Indiana and Miami. It kicks off at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, January 19. So, honestly, the Bryant-Denny lights are off for the season.
Looking Ahead: When Does Alabama Play Again?
Since the season is over, your next chance to see the Crimson Tide in a meaningful football game isn't until the fall of 2026. The university recently finalized the 2026 schedule, and it's a gauntlet.
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The 2026 season opener is set for September 5, 2026, against East Carolina in Tuscaloosa.
Here is how that early 2026 stretch looks:
- Sept. 5: East Carolina (Home)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky (Lexington)
- Sept. 19: Florida State (Home)
- Sept. 26: South Carolina (Home)
It's a long wait. Basically eight months of recruiting news, spring ball hype, and transfer portal drama.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Postseason
A lot of folks get confused by the new 12-team bracket. It used to be that if you made the "Final Four," you were guaranteed a New Year's Day slot or later. Now, with the First Round on campus sites in mid-December, the schedule is spread out.
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If Alabama had beaten Indiana on New Year's Day, they would have played in the Semifinals last week (January 9). If they had won that, you'd be looking for a kickoff time for this coming Monday. But since the Rose Bowl loss, the team has been in "offseason mode."
Actionable Steps for Disappointed Fans
Just because there isn't a game tomorrow doesn't mean you can't get your Bama fix. Here is what you should actually be looking at this weekend:
- Check the Basketball Schedule: The Alabama Men's and Women's basketball teams are in the heart of SEC play. The women actually play tonight (January 15) against Auburn.
- Monitor the Portal: January is the "second season" for roster building. Keep an eye on the 247Sports Transfer Portal tracker to see who DeBoer is bringing in for the 2026 run.
- Rewatch the Oklahoma Win: If you really need to see some Tide football, the CFP First Round win over the Sooners remains the high point of the 2025 postseason. It’s available on various streaming replays.
The quest to find out what time is the Alabama Crimson Tide football game tomorrow ends with a quiet Friday, but the countdown to the September 5 kickoff against East Carolina has already begun. Mark your calendars for the Saturday of Labor Day weekend; that’s when the real action returns to T-Town.