So, you're looking for the Crimson Tide today, Sunday, January 18, 2026. You’ve probably checked the TV guide or scrolled through your sports apps and felt a little bit of that "where is everyone?" confusion.
I’ll give it to you straight: Alabama does not play football today. It’s a weird feeling for Bama fans, especially after a season that saw Kalen DeBoer's squad fighting through a revamped 12-team playoff structure. But today belongs strictly to the NFL. While the Tide isn't on the field, the football world is currently obsessed with the NFL Divisional Round. If you're looking for a fix, you've got the Houston Texans taking on the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Rams and Bears later tonight.
What happened to the Tide's postseason?
If you feel like you just saw them, you basically did. Alabama's run in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) came to an end on New Year's Day. After a gritty first-round victory against Oklahoma in Norman (that 34-24 win was much closer than the score looks), they traveled to Pasadena for a quarterfinal matchup in the Rose Bowl.
That’s where things got sideways.
💡 You might also like: Juan Carlos Gabriel de Anda: Why the Controversial Sportscaster Still Matters
Indiana—yes, the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers—put on a clinic. Alabama fell 38-3 in a game that left most of Tuscaloosa in a state of shock. It wasn't the "Granddaddy of Them All" performance anyone expected. Because of that loss, Bama's season wrapped up on January 1.
The rest of the college world is actually waiting for tomorrow. Monday, January 19, is the big one. Indiana and Miami are set to clash for the National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium. If you’re asking when does Alabama play football today, the honest answer is that they’re already back in the weight room or hitting the recruiting trail for the 2026 cycle.
Looking ahead to the 2026 schedule
Since there’s no game today, most fans are already pivoting to the fall. The 2026 schedule is actually quite a monster because the SEC is moving to a nine-game conference slate. This is a massive shift from what we've seen for decades.
📖 Related: Ja Morant Height: Why the NBA Star Looks Bigger Than He Actually Is
Bama kicks things off on September 5, 2026, against East Carolina. But the real heat starts almost immediately. They travel to Lexington to face Kentucky in Week 2, which is the earliest SEC road trip they’ve taken since Nick Saban’s first year back in 2007.
Here is how the start of that 2026 season looks:
- Sept 5: East Carolina (Home)
- Sept 12: at Kentucky (Road)
- Sept 19: Florida State (Home)
- Sept 26: South Carolina (Home)
That Florida State game on the 19th is already circled in red. It’s part of a home-and-home that feels like a throwback to those massive non-conference openers, except this time it’s happening right in the middle of September in T-Town.
👉 See also: Hulk Hogan Lifting Andre the Giant: What Really Happened at WrestleMania III
Why there's no college football today
You might be wondering why there aren't any college games today. Historically, college football avoids Sundays like the plague during the NFL postseason. The NFL Divisional Round is a ratings juggernaut. Trying to compete with the Rams-Bears matchup for eyeballs is a losing battle even for a brand as big as Alabama.
The CFP National Championship has found its permanent home on Monday nights for this exact reason. It gives the college game its own exclusive window without having to share the stage with the pros.
Actionable steps for the Tide faithful
Since you can't watch Bama today, here is how you can stay plugged in:
- Watch the NFL Playoffs: Keep an eye on former Tide stars like Jahmyr Gibbs or Bryce Young if their teams are still alive. The "Bama in the NFL" presence is usually the best way to spend a Sunday in January.
- Scout the National Championship: Tune in tomorrow night (Jan 19) at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Watching Indiana and Miami will give you a good look at the level Alabama needs to get back to for next season.
- Check Recruiting Updates: With the season over, the real "game" is the transfer portal and late-stage recruiting. Follow local beat writers for news on who might be leaving or joining the roster for the September opener.
The wait for September 5 feels long, but in the SEC, the work never actually stops.