Summer’s still cranking up the heat, and the buzz for college football just keeps getting louder. So let’s take a look at the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 2026 football schedule.
This year, Alabama shook things up a bit. They dropped their series with West Virginia and lined up East Carolina University (ECU) instead.
The move comes as the SEC expands to nine conference games, which means Alabama’s got a pretty interesting opener lined up. ECU, meanwhile, is coming in with a reworked squad and some big ambitions.
Let’s try to figure out what’s in store for this matchup and the rest of the Tide’s 2026 slate.
ECU’s Coaching Dynamics and Recent Performance
ECU’s been through some real changes with their coaching staff lately. Blake Harrell took over as interim head coach in 2024, and not long after, he landed the permanent gig.
He’s made a mark already. The Pirates pulled off a 9-4 season in 2025, even snagging a Military Bowl win over Pitt.
Harrell’s overall record sits at 14-5, with a 10-3 run in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). That’s not too shabby for a program that’s had its share of ups and downs.
Key Coaching Changes
But the staff carousel kept spinning. Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge, who built one of the AAC’s stingiest defenses in 2025, bolted for South Florida.
Offensive Coordinator John David Baker also left, taking his playbook to Ole Miss. So, who’s in now?
- Jordan Davis: Fresh from North Texas, he’s now calling plays as ECU’s Offensive Coordinator.
- Jordon Hankins: Hired from Memphis, he’s set to run the defense.
Player Turnover and Key Losses
ECU’s roster has been picked over pretty hard. The Upgrade Portal and graduation took a toll.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly notes that the Pirates are only bringing back about 42 percent of last year’s production. That puts them way down at 110th out of 138 FBS teams.
Some big names are gone. Starting quarterback, running back, wide receiver, two offensive linemen, and their top two tight ends all transferred to bigger schools.
Returning Starters and Top Newcomers
Still, not everyone’s gone. There are a few key pieces sticking around, plus some fresh faces who could make things interesting.
- Brock Spalding: Third-leading receiver last year—42 catches, 554 yards, 3 touchdowns.
- Jasiyah Robinson: Defensive lineman who racked up 5 sacks.
- Kendrick DuJour: Another D-lineman, notched 3 sacks.
- DJ Johnson: Linebacker who tallied 29 solo tackles and 31 assists.
There’s also a group of newcomers worth keeping an eye on:
- Ashton Gray: Running back, came over from North Texas—377 yards and 5 touchdowns.
- Landon Sides: Wideout from North Texas, put up 449 yards and a touchdown.
- Michael Allen: Running back from Marshall, managed 385 yards and 4 touchdowns.
- Brandon Best: Center, previously at Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State.
Strengths and Weaknesses
ECU’s got some things working in their favor. Their coaching staff is pretty solid, and there’s some real depth at wide receiver and on the defensive line.
Jordan Davis is expected to spice up the passing game as Offensive Coordinator. Harrell’s defensive chops should help keep things tight on that side of the ball.
Challenges to Overcome
But, honestly, there’s a lot to fix. The Pirates are dealing with:
- Personnel Turnover: Coaching and player changes everywhere.
- Offensive Line Rebuild: They’ve got to come together fast to protect whoever’s under center and open up some running lanes.
- Quarterback Uncertainty: Neither Mitch Griffis nor Emory Williams has really shown they’re the answer.
- New Secondary: Pretty much a whole new group back there, which could mean trouble in coverage.
- Special Teams Coverage: Needs work—can’t afford to give up easy field position.
ECU’s 2026 Schedule
Looking at the 2026 schedule, there are some games that look winnable, but a few that are just plain tough. Here’s how it shapes up:
- Sat, Sep 5 @ Alabama: Predicted Loss
- Sat, Sep 12 vs App State: Predicted Win
- Sat, Sep 19 @ Old Dominion: Predicted Win
- Sat, Sep 26 vs North Carolina Central: Predicted Win
- Sat, Oct 10 vs Rice: Predicted Win
- Thu, Oct 15 @ UAB: Predicted Win
- Thu, Oct 22 @ Memphis: Predicted Loss
- Sat, Oct 31 vs Temple: Predicted Win
- Fri, Nov 6 vs South Florida: Predicted Loss
- Sat, Nov 14 @ Charlotte: Predicted Win
- Sat, Nov 21 @ Army: Predicted Loss
- Fri, Nov 27 vs Florida Atlantic: Predicted Win
Alabama’s 2026 Schedule
Alabama’s schedule is stacked with a mix of SEC showdowns and a handful of non-conference games. Take a look at what they’ve got lined up:
- Sat, Sep 5 vs East Carolina
- Sat, Sep 12 @ Kentucky
- Sat, Sep 19 vs Florida State
- Sat, Sep 26 vs South Carolina
- Sat, Oct 3 @ Mississippi State
- Sat, Oct 10 vs Georgia
- Sat, Oct 17 @ Tennessee
- Sat, Oct 24 vs Texas A&M
- Sat, Nov 7 @ LSU
- Sat, Nov 14 @ Vanderbilt
- Sat, Nov 21 vs Chattanooga
- Sat, Nov 28 vs Auburn
Want a deeper dive into Alabama’s 2026 opponents? You can check out the full preview on Roll ‘Bama Roll.
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