12-5 Season Record
The 2026 rules slate also trims the suspension for a first targeting offense and shortens the offensive pass interference penalty from 15 yards to 10, easing two of the sport's most debated calls.
College football adopts the NFL's fair catch kick in 2026, letting a receiving team try an untimed, unblocked three-point kick from the spot of a fair catch. The head coach must declare it before the ball is ready for play, and the choice cannot be reversed.
True freshman Ced Morgan is in the mix for Alabama's No. 3 receiver job behind Ryan Coleman-Williams and NC State transfer Noah Rogers, and USA Today lists him among the newcomers most likely to contribute right away. The 6-4 Alexander City product ranked as the No. 5 receiver in the 2026 class.
Wommack says offseason conversations with Nick Saban pushed him to add wrinkles to Alabama's match coverage after the defense struggled to get off the field on third-and-long in 2025. Longer corners like 6-4 sophomore Dijon Lee Jr. should let the Tide press more often.
Edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre passed on the 2026 draft to return for a fourth season after leading Alabama with 45 pressures, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Scouts now peg him as a possible top-20 pick in 2027.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack expects fifth-year transfer Devan Thompkins to anchor the Bandit spot, saying his size and physicality make him a bad matchup for SEC tight ends trying to open the C-gap. Run defense was a soft spot the Tide spent the offseason addressing.
Five-star freshman EJ Crowell has drawn early camp praise as Alabama tries to repair a ground game that averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and ranked 126th nationally in 2025. He joins Daniel Hill, AK Dear and Kevin Riley in a packed rotation.
Alabama's projected left tackle Jackson Lloyd checks in at No. 13 on Bruce Feldman's annual Freaks list at 6-7 and 317 pounds with a 505-pound bench and 760-pound squat. Three more Tide players made the list: Daniel Hill, Ryan Coleman-Williams and Bray Hubbard.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb says Alabama is scrapping last year's heavy rotation for a best-five approach on the offensive line, but admits the staff is still a ways off from locking in the group before the September 5 opener against East Carolina.
Alabama opened fall camp without a single returning full-time starter up front, leaving sophomore Michael Carroll and his six career starts as the most experienced blocker. New line coach Adrian Klemm inherits a unit that ranked next-to-last in the SEC in rushing last season.
Several Alabama players are drawing national attention as early risers through the first week of fall camp, with CBS Sports highlighting the Tide among teams with surging performers ahead of the 2026 season.
Alabama's 2026 jerseys drop the script A in favor of the SEC logo, clearing prime chest real estate for a potential sponsor patch as fans speculate on who will buy in.
With Josh Cuevas off to the NFL, Marshall Pritchett and Kaleb Edwards are sharing leadership of Alabama's tight end room, crediting new position coach Richard Owens for deepening their blocking knowledge.
Alabama DC Kane Wommack says the Tide's defensive line is "in a much better place" size-wise after getting moved around the past two years, with veteran Jah-Marien Latham back at the "wolf" edge spot.
Alabama TE Marshall Pritchett calls QB Keelon Russell "dynamite in a bottle," praising his athleticism and improbable throws as the young passer builds buzz in fall camp's quarterback competition.
Alabama @ Kentucky
South Carolina @ Alabama
Alabama @ Miss State
Georgia @ Alabama
Alabama @ Tennessee
Texas A&M @ Alabama
