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Alabama football 2026 schedule released

Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.

The gist

Alabama opened 2026 with a 48-10 win over East Carolina as heat hit 99°F.
The heat sent 21 people to EMS, so the schedule's kickoff times now matter.

Background

Alabama's 2026 football schedule is underway, with the Crimson Tide beating East Carolina 48-10 in the Sept. 5 opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game was played in extreme heat — 99 degrees with a stadium heat index of 106°F — and the university later said there were 21 heat-related EMS calls inside the stadium, with one person transported. The schedule's upcoming games, including a Sept. 12 trip to Kentucky on ABC, are now the focus as the season continues.

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 5, 2026Alabama defeated East Carolina 48-10 in its season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium; temperature reached 99 degrees and the heat index inside the stadium reached 106°F.
  2. Sep 9, 2026The University of Alabama said there were 21 heat-related EMS calls inside Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Sept. 5 game, with one person transported from the stadium.
  3. Sep 11, 2026Kentucky unveiled its uniform combination for the Week 2 game against Alabama.
  4. Sep 12, 2026Alabama at Kentucky, 2:30 p.m., ABC.
  5. Sep 19, 2026Alabama vs. Florida State Seminoles, 2:30 p.m., ABC.
  6. Sep 26, 2026Alabama vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, prime time.
  7. Oct 3, 2026Alabama at Mississippi State Bulldogs, early window.
  8. Oct 10, 2026Alabama vs. Georgia Bulldogs, prime time.
  9. Oct 17, 2026Alabama at Tennessee Volunteers, TBA.
  10. Oct 24, 2026Alabama vs. Texas A&M Aggies, TBA.
  11. Nov 7, 2026Alabama at LSU Tigers, TBA.

Who’s saying what

Official
The University of Alabama said the extreme heat led to 21 heat-related EMS calls inside the stadium and that one person was transported, while other fans were treated in cooling zones and first-aid areas.
Expert
Meteorologist James Spann told fans during halftime that they were likely experiencing Alabama's hottest home game on record.
Analysts
Alabama entered Week 2 ranked No. 12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll; Kentucky was unranked and both teams were 1-0.

Sources

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