Greg Byrne says Alabama to ‘evaluate future nonconference schedules’ with SEC’s move to 9-game slate
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne hinted at what many were wondering in response to the decision Thursday by the SEC to move to a 9-game conference schedule in 2026 — Alabama’s future nonconference schedules are set to be re-evaluated.
Byrne shared a statement on social media on Thursday evening.
“The implementation of a 9-game Southeastern Conference football schedule illustrates our league’s commitment to evolving with the changing landscape and creating even more high-profile matchups,” Byrne wrote. “This is a win for our program, student-athletes, fans, and all of college football. With the addition of a ninth SEC game, we will evaluate our future nonconference schedules.”
The stipulation that comes with the 9-game league schedule is that SEC teams must continue to schedule a “high-quality” Power 4 opponent each year beginning in 2026.
Looking ahead, Alabama had already scheduled out “high-quality” games through the 2034 season.
The Crimson Tide will face West Virginia, USF, and Florida State in 2026. A home game against West Virginia is on the docket for 2027, as well as a game at Ohio State. In 2028, Ohio State and UT Martin are scheduled to visit Tuscaloosa while the Crimson Tide travel to Oklahoma State.
All told, the Tide have 11 Power 4 games on each over their upcoming schedules through the 2034 season. That more than satisfies the SEC’s requirements. But it will be interesting to see how things ultimately shake out, and if any of the upcoming games on the Alabama schedule will stay as is or be adjusted.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
