Home / Sports / Alabama Kicks Off 2026 Season Amidst Heat and QB Questions
Alabama Kicks Off 2026 Season Amidst Heat and QB Questions
5 Sep
Summary
- Alabama begins its 2026 season facing East Carolina on September 5th.
- Extreme heat is predicted, with temperatures potentially exceeding 100 degrees.
- Sophomore Keelon Russell has been named the starting quarterback for Alabama.
The No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide will commence its 2026 football season on Saturday, September 5th, hosting East Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET, with the game broadcast nationally on ABC. This season opener is anticipated to be one of the hottest on record, with temperatures potentially reaching over 100 degrees and a heat index of 110 degrees.
Sophomore Keelon Russell has officially been named Alabama's starting quarterback, securing the role over Austin Mack after a rigorous competition. Russell, a former five-star recruit, appeared in two games last season, demonstrating promise with 143 passing yards and two touchdowns. His selection signals a new era for the Crimson Tide's offense as they aim to revitalize their run game and establish an explosive passing attack under Coach Kalen DeBoer.
The Crimson Tide faces an East Carolina team coming off a successful nine-win season in 2025 and picked to finish fifth in their conference. Despite being a considerable favorite, Alabama enters its third season under DeBoer seeking to surpass the four-loss record of the past two seasons, a mark not seen frequently during the Nick Saban era. This game marks only the second meeting between the two programs, with Alabama winning the previous encounter 23-22 in 1998.
