Alabama: 3 games that will define 2026 season

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The Alabama Crimson Tide made its first College Football Playoff appearance under head coach Kalen DeBoer last season, and defeated Oklahoma in the first round before suffering a blowout to Indiana in the quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

DeBoer signed a seven-year contract extension worth $87.7 million in April, and Alabama expects greater things from its head coach in the future.

The Crimson Tide will face an uphill battle to return to the CFP this year with several questions on their roster, especially at quarterback with Keelon Russell and Austin Mack set to battle for the starting job in training camp. The defense lost four players to the NFL draft.

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The nine-game SEC schedule will be another challenge for Alabama. Here are the three games that will define DeBoer’s third season in Tuscaloosa.

Georgia at Alabama (Oct. 10)

Alabama has gotten the better of Georgia during the regular season in the last two years. The Crimson Tide knocked off Georgia 41-34 in 2024. Last season, Alabama held on to beat the Dawgs 24-21 in September. But Georgia got its revenge in the SEC championship, blowing out the Crimson Tide 28-7.

Georgia looks poised to compete for the national championship this year, and the early October matchup will be a tough test for Alabama. The Crimson Tide ran for -3 yards in the SEC championship. Alabama must improve its run game if it hopes to knock off Georgia this year.

Texas A&M at Alabama (Oct. 24)

The matchup between Texas A&M and Alabama could be an early decider about which SEC program makes the CFP. The Aggies look poised to make another CFP run with quarterback Marcel Reed returning to College Station.

Alabama’s front seven will need to keep Reed in check in order to win this game. Miami and Texas did it last season by winning in the trenches, something the Crimson Tide struggled with in big games in 2025. The home crowd should provide a boost for DeBoer’s squad.

Alabama at LSU (Nov. 7)

LSU should come into this game as a favorite under new head coach Lane Kiffin and his reportedly $40 million roster, and Alabama will be tested playing at Tiger Stadium in November.

By this point in the season, Alabama could need a win over LSU to stay in the CFP chase. The Crimson Tide will need its secondary to step up against one of the more potent receiver corps in the nation.

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