Alabama’s 2026 Opener Set for September 5
The Crimson Tide will open the 2026 campaign on September 5 at 11 a.m. Central Time, with the broadcast slated on ABC. The kickoff was confirmed during ESPN’s Disney Upfront presentation, where the network also outlined the schedule for several early‑season matchups.
This will mark Alabama’s first home‑field start of the season since the 2025 opener was played on the road, a departure from tradition that ended a 23‑year streak of season‑opening victories. The game at Bryant‑Denny Stadium will be a homecoming of sorts after the previous year’s disappointment.
East Carolina arrives with momentum from a 9‑4 finish last season, highlighted by a Military Bowl triumph over Pittsburgh. The Pirates have reshaped their staff, appointing Jordan Davis — formerly of North Texas — as offensive coordinator, and they have bolstered the roster with 23 transfer‑portal acquisitions, including 13 on the offensive side of the ball.
At the quarterback position, head coach Blake Harrell is overseeing a competition between Mitch Griffis and Emory Williams. Griffis, a seventh‑year transfer who previously starred at Texas Tech and Wake Forest, brings experience, while Williams, a senior transfer from Miami, adds a different skill set. Both are expected to battle for the starting role throughout the preseason.
What’s at Stake
For Alabama, the opener is more than a season‑opening ritual; it is a chance to reassert dominance after a rare defeat to Florida State in the previous year’s kickoff game. For East Carolina, the matchup offers a platform to test a revamped roster against a storied SEC program and to gauge the impact of new coaching directives.