If you're waking up on this Saturday, January 17, 2026, and looking for a kickoff time, I've got some bad news. There is no Alabama football game today.
Roll Tide? More like Roll Tide... later this fall.
It’s a weird feeling for fans who have spent the last decade watching Bama play deep into January. Usually, this is the window where we're prepping for a National Championship or at least arguing about a playoff snub. But right now? The pads are in the lockers and the recruiting trail is the only thing moving.
Who is Alabama playing football today? The Short Answer
The Alabama Crimson Tide is not playing a football game today. Their 2025-26 season ended earlier this month on January 1, 2026, after a tough loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl. That game served as the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
Honestly, the 38-3 score in that Rose Bowl was a bit of a shock to the system. Seeing Alabama held to a single field goal in a playoff game isn't exactly what Kalen DeBoer had on his bingo card for year two. But that’s the reality. While the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes are getting ready to play in the National Championship this coming Monday, January 19, the Tide is strictly in "rebuild" mode.
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If you’re desperate for some Crimson Tide action today, you’ll have to switch sports. The Alabama men’s basketball team is actually in action. They’re taking on the Oklahoma Sooners at the Lloyd Noble Center. Tip-off is set for 12:00 PM CST. It's a massive SEC showdown, and considering how the football season ended, a lot of the fan base is pivoting hard to the hardwood right now.
Why Alabama isn’t in the National Championship
A lot of people are asking what went wrong. Basically, it was a season of massive highs followed by a wall.
Bama actually looked great in the first round of the playoffs. They went to Norman and beat Oklahoma 34-24 in a game that felt like a vintage "find a way to win" performance. They overcame a 17-point deficit in that one. But then came the Rose Bowl against Indiana.
Indiana, led by Curt Cignetti, was a juggernaut. They haven't lost a game all year. They’re 15-0 and they played like it, suffocating the Alabama offense and forcing the Tide to settle for a lonely field goal. It was the first time Alabama had been held without a touchdown in a bowl game in ages.
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The Transfer Portal Frenzy: Who’s Staying and Who’s Going?
Just because there isn't a game doesn't mean the team is static. Far from it. Yesterday, January 16, was actually a massive day for the future of the program.
The winter transfer portal window officially closed, and Alabama made some serious noise in the final hours. If you’re worried about the offensive line—which, let’s be real, we all are—there’s some relief.
- Nick Brooks: The massive 6-foot-7 guard from Texas committed last night. He’s 349 pounds of "don't touch my quarterback."
- Racin Delgatty: A center from Cal Poly who has only allowed one sack in nearly 800 pass-blocking snaps.
- Ty Haywood & Kaden Strayhorn: Both of these guys are coming over from Michigan to help stabilize a line that’s losing several starters to the NFL.
Speaking of the NFL, the roster is thinning out. Stars like Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, and Jaeden Roberts are all headed to the pros. It’s the cycle we’re used to, but it makes these portal wins even more critical.
What’s Next for Alabama Football?
Since there’s no game today, the focus shifts to the long game. The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s a gauntlet.
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The season opener is scheduled for September 5, 2026, against East Carolina in Tuscaloosa. But the real meat of the schedule starts early. Florida State comes to Bryant-Denny on September 19, followed by Georgia on October 10.
For now, the coaching staff is focused on the "offseason program"—which is just a fancy way of saying they’re lifting heavy weights and trying to forget that Rose Bowl score. There’s also the Hall of Fame news to celebrate; Mark Ingram was just selected for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. It’s a nice reminder of the standard this program is trying to get back to.
Actionable Steps for Fans Today
Since you can't watch Bama football today, here is how you can stay plugged into the program:
- Watch the Basketball Game: Tune into ESPN at 12:00 PM CST to see the Tide take on Oklahoma.
- Check the Final Portal Tracker: Look at the official list of 2026 commits. The additions of Brooks and Delgatty change the math for the offensive line significantly.
- Plan Your 2026 Travel: The 2026 schedule has five road games, including trips to LSU (Nov 7) and Tennessee (Oct 17). If you’re planning to go, hotel blocks in those towns usually fill up about six months out.
- Monitor the NFL Draft Entrants: Keep an eye on the final list of Alabama players declaring for the draft. The deadline is right around the corner, and a few "stay or go" decisions are still looming for some defensive starters.