So, you’re looking for the Crimson Tide today. I get it. If you’re like most of us in the South, Saturday isn't a day—it's a religion. But if you’re checking the calendar for January 13, 2026, I have some news that might be a little bit of a letdown if you were hoping for a kickoff.
The short answer? Alabama does not play a football game today. Honestly, the season just wrapped up in a way that’s still a bit of a sore subject for anyone wearing crimson and white. We just watched the College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl back on New Year’s Day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the fairy tale ending fans wanted. Alabama took a tough 38-3 loss against the Indiana Hoosiers. Yeah, you read that right. Indiana. It’s been a wild year for college football.
Who Does Alabama Play in Football Today? Breaking Down the Offseason
Since the Tide was eliminated in that Rose Bowl matchup, the cleats are in the locker room for now. The "today" schedule for Alabama football involves a lot of weight lifting, film study, and—perhaps most importantly—the transfer portal.
While the football team is quiet, the Alabama men's basketball team is actually the one hitting the floor tonight. They’re over in Starkville taking on Mississippi State at 9 p.m. ET. If you absolutely need a fix of Bama sports, that’s your move. But if you came here strictly for the gridiron, we’re officially in that weird, quiet gap where we talk about recruiting more than actual touchdowns.
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What Happened in the Playoffs?
It’s worth looking at how we got here. Coach Kalen DeBoer’s squad fought hard through the 2025 season. They finished with an 11-5 record overall, which sounds a bit strange if you're used to the old 12-game schedules. With the expanded playoff system, these seasons are marathons now.
Alabama managed to snag the No. 9 seed in the CFP bracket. They actually looked great in the first round, traveling to Norman and taking down No. 8 Oklahoma with a 34-24 win. That victory gave everyone hope that maybe, just maybe, another trophy was coming to Tuscaloosa. But the Rose Bowl on January 1st was a different story. Indiana, the No. 1 seed, just had their number. It was one of those games where nothing clicked.
The 2026 Schedule: When Do They Play Next?
If you're already looking forward to the fall, I don't blame you. The SEC released the 2026 dates not too long ago, and it’s a gauntlet. If you’re trying to plan your life, here’s what the start of next season looks like:
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- Sept. 5: East Carolina (Home opener)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky (First road test)
- Sept. 19: Florida State (Huge non-conference game in Tuscaloosa)
- Sept. 26: South Carolina
That September 19th game against FSU is already circled in red on my calendar. After the way the 2025 season ended, that’s going to be a massive "prove it" game for DeBoer and his staff.
The Roster Shakeup Everyone is Talking About
You can't talk about Alabama football today without mentioning the roster. It's a revolving door right now. We’ve seen some big names head for the NFL Draft—Ty Simpson and Kadyn Proctor are some of the heavy hitters moving on.
But it's not all exits. The 2026 recruiting class is starting to take shape. Keep an eye on Keelon Russell. He’s got the eligibility and the talent to really make that QB room his own next year. Also, the wide receiver room is getting a boost with Noah Rogers coming in from NC State. Honestly, the coaching staff has been busy. They just officially added Derrick Nix to coach the wide receivers, which is a solid move considering how much speed they’re trying to build back into the offense.
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The New Reality of the SEC
The landscape is just... different. Seeing Indiana and Miami (FL) at the top of the playoff rankings while Alabama watches from home is a bit of a reality check. The SEC isn't just a two-team race between Bama and Georgia anymore. With Texas and Oklahoma fully integrated and teams like Ole Miss making deep playoff runs (they’re in the semifinals right now!), the margin for error is basically zero.
What You Should Do Today
Since there’s no game to watch, here’s how you can stay in the loop:
- Watch the Basketball Game: Check out the Tide vs. Mississippi State on the SEC Network tonight at 9 p.m. It's a huge conference game.
- Monitor the Portal: The next few weeks are critical for filling those gaps on the offensive line and in the secondary.
- National Championship Prep: Even though Alabama isn't in it, the National Championship is set for January 19, 2026. It's Miami vs. Indiana at Hard Rock Stadium. It might be worth watching just to see the team that knocked the Tide out.
Alabama football is a year-round obsession. Even when the answer to "who does Alabama play today" is "nobody," there is always something happening in Tuscaloosa. Grab your calendar, mark down that September 5th opener against East Carolina, and start the countdown. We're only about 235 days away from real football again.