Alabama reportedly adds pair of first-time FCS opponents to future schedules

Alabama coach Nick Saban is in support of expanding the SEC league schedule to 9 games (or even 10 games) when Texas and Oklahoma join the conference in a couple of years.

But, with those tougher Power 5 games on the schedule, the Crimson Tide are also filling out their nonconference slates with some FCS foes.

Per a report from FBSchedules.com, Alabama has agreed to a contract to host Eastern Illinois in Tuscaloosa in 2025:

Alabama will host the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The Crimson Tide will pay the Panthers a $560,000 guarantee for playing the game, according to the copy of the contract that was executed on May 11, 2021.

The report also states that UT Martin will head to Alabama to play the Tide in 2028:

The UT Martin Skyhawks will travel to take on the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2028. Per the contract copy, UT Martin will receive a $500,000 guarantee for the game.

Alabama had UT Martin on its nonconference schedule for the 2020 season, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a 10-game SEC-only schedule was played that year.

Alabama’s 2025 nonconference schedule is now filled, with Eastern Illinois joining Florida State, Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin on the Tide’s slate of non-SEC foes.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.