Mark your calendars. September 19, 2026. That is the day the Florida State Seminoles roll into Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. If you’re a fan of either program, you probably already have that date circled in red ink, maybe with a few exclamation points for good measure.
This isn't just another non-conference filler game. Honestly, it’s the second leg of a high-stakes home-and-home series that has been years in the making. We just saw the first half of this drama play out in Tallahassee back in August 2025, and let’s just say, it didn’t go exactly how the folks in T-Town expected. FSU took that one 31-17. Now, the Tide is looking for some serious payback on their own turf.
The Long Road to Tuscaloosa
For the longest time, these two titans of college football barely crossed paths. Before this recent home-and-home deal was struck, you could count their meetings on one hand. It’s weird, right? Two of the most successful programs in the history of the sport, located only about 300 miles apart, and they’ve basically been strangers.
The 2026 game is actually a bit of a historical landmark. While Alabama has traveled to Florida to play the Noles before—like the 2025 trip to Doak Campbell and a 2007 neutral-site game in Jacksonville—having FSU come to Tuscaloosa is a rarity. This series was officially announced way back in 2019. Back then, Nick Saban was still the king of the mountain and Mike Norvell was just getting his feet wet. The world looks a lot different now.
Kalen DeBoer is steering the ship in Alabama now. He’s dealing with a transformed SEC and a playoff system that actually rewards these kind of "anywhere, anytime" matchups. You’ve gotta respect both ADs for actually scheduling this. Most big programs are content to schedule "directional" schools for their non-conference slate. Alabama and FSU decided to choose violence instead.
👉 See also: NFL Playoff Schedule January 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
When Does Alabama Play FSU? The 2026 Kickoff Details
While we know the date is September 19, 2026, the exact kickoff time is still up in the air. That’s just how TV networks work. They’ll wait until about two weeks before the game to announce if it’s a 3:30 PM ET "Game of the Week" or a primetime night slot under the lights.
Given the pedigree here, you can almost bet your house it’ll be a national broadcast on ABC or ESPN.
Why the 2025 Game Changed the Narrative
To understand why the 2026 game matters so much, you have to look at what happened in August 2025. Florida State didn't just win; they controlled the tempo. Alabama entered that game as the #8 team in the country, and the Seminoles basically physically overwhelmed them.
- The Final Score: FSU 31, Alabama 17.
- The Venue: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.
- The Fallout: It was the first time FSU had ever hosted Alabama in Tallahassee.
That loss sat heavy with the Tide all season. By the time the 2026 rematch rolls around, the sophomores who felt that sting in Tallahassee will be juniors and seniors. They’ll be the ones leading the charge in Bryant-Denny.
A History of Ties and Vacated Wins
The all-time series record between these two is... complicated. Depending on who you ask (and if you count vacated wins), Alabama leads the series 3-2-1.
Wait, a tie? Yeah. Back in 1967, they played to a 37-37 deadlock in Birmingham. It was a different era of football, obviously. Then you have the 2007 game. FSU won that one 21-14 in Jacksonville, but because of NCAA sanctions involving an academic scandal at Florida State, that win was technically vacated. Alabama fans like to remind people of that. FSU fans usually just point to the scoreboard from that day.
Then there was the 2017 Chick-fil-A Kickoff game. That was the "Greatest Opener of All Time" hype-fest. Alabama won 24-7, but it was a pyrrhic victory for FSU. Their star quarterback, Deondre Francois, suffered a season-ending injury late in the game, and the Noles' season spiraled from there.
What to Expect in the 2026 Matchup
By September 2026, both rosters will look significantly different than they do today. But the DNA of these programs stays the same.
Alabama is always going to have a stable of four and five-star recruits. Under DeBoer, the offense has become more explosive, more "West Coast" influenced, but still reliant on a dominant offensive line. On the other side, Mike Norvell has turned FSU into a portal powerhouse. He’s shown he can rebuild a roster on the fly by picking up veteran talent from across the country.
The SEC is also moving to a nine-game conference schedule. This means Alabama's 2026 path is a literal gauntlet. They play FSU on September 19, but they also have to deal with Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Auburn. There are no weeks off.
Key Factors for the 2026 Game
- Home Field Advantage: Bryant-Denny Stadium is a different beast. The crowd noise and the heat in September in Alabama are no joke.
- Quarterback Maturity: By 2026, the signal-callers for both teams should be established. We won't be looking at "first-game jitters" like we often see in these big non-conference openers.
- Playoff Implications: With the 12-team (and potentially expanding) playoff, a loss here isn't a death sentence. However, a win is a massive "Quality Win" for the resume.
Planning Your Trip to Tuscaloosa
If you're planning on attending, start looking at hotels now. Seriously. Tuscaloosa during a big game weekend is basically at 110% capacity. Most people end up staying in Birmingham or Bessemer and driving in.
Tickets for the Alabama vs. FSU game on September 19, 2026, will be among the most expensive of the season. If you aren't a season ticket holder or a high-level donor, you're looking at the secondary market—StubHub, SeatGeek, and the like. Expect to pay a premium.
The Non-Conference Slate for Alabama in 2026
Alabama actually has a pretty interesting non-conference setup for 2026.
- Sept 5: East Carolina
- Sept 12: at Kentucky (SEC)
- Sept 19: Florida State
- Nov 21: Chattanooga
Wait, notice anything? They play a conference game between their non-conference games. They open with ECU, travel to Kentucky for an early SEC test, and then host FSU. That’s a brutal three-week stretch to start a season.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for this matchup, here is what you should do:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: In modern college football, the roster you see in the spring is not the roster you see in the fall. FSU especially thrives here.
- Check the SEC Network Schedule: About 10-12 days before the game, the SEC will announce the specific kickoff time.
- Download the Apps: Both the "Roll Tide" and "Florida State Seminoles" official apps are the fastest way to get stadium entry info and gate opening times.
- Book Accommodations Early: If you're traveling, look for rentals in Northport or the surrounding Tuscaloosa suburbs rather than the downtown hotels, which will be triple the normal price.
The 2026 meeting is the tiebreaker of sorts for this modern era. FSU won in 2025. Alabama wants that win back. It’s the kind of game that defines a season and makes college football the obsession that it is. See you in Tuscaloosa.