Tuscaloosa, Alabama – – The University of Alabama has announced its season opener for , scheduling a home game against Georgia State on , at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The addition of the Panthers to the schedule introduces complexities to the Crimson Tide’s existing commitments, potentially requiring adjustments to previously scheduled non-conference matchups.
The announcement, made on Monday, confirms a third meeting between the two programs. Alabama currently holds a 2-0 record against Georgia State, with their most recent contest taking place on , resulting in a 45-3 victory for the Crimson Tide. The game was originally scheduled for 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a conference-only schedule.
With the addition of Georgia State, Alabama now has 13 games scheduled for . This exceeds the typical number of commitments at this stage, indicating that one of the team’s existing non-conference games will likely be rescheduled or cancelled. Currently, Alabama has non-conference games slated against Ohio State, UT Martin, and Oklahoma State in addition to the newly announced Georgia State contest.
The scheduling situation is complicated by existing contracts. Alabama has a home-and-home series scheduled with Ohio State in 2027 and 2028, secured in . Breaching this contract would incur a penalty of $3 million, although an “out clause” exists if either the Southeastern Conference (SEC) or the Big Ten Conference deems it “impossible or impractical” to play the games. In such a scenario, both programs would attempt to reschedule, according to contract details obtained by The Tuscaloosa News.
A similar clause exists in Alabama’s home-and-home agreement with Oklahoma State for and . Cancellation would result in a $1 million penalty per game, increasing to $2 million if the breach occurs within two years of the scheduled date. The UT Martin game, scheduled for , carries a cancellation fee of $500,000.
Alabama’s schedule also includes nine SEC games, as the conference will be operating under a new format beginning this fall. The Crimson Tide is set to host Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, and Vanderbilt, while facing Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M on the road. The addition of Georgia State brings the total number of non-conference home games to three, alongside Ohio State and UT Martin, with the Oklahoma State game taking place in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Georgia State, which began its football program in , finished the previous season with a 1-11 record and ranked 129th out of 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in ESPN’s Football Power Index. Alabama holds a historical advantage over the Panthers, and the upcoming game is expected to provide an early-season test for both programs.
The scheduling adjustments reflect the increasing complexities of college football scheduling, particularly for programs in major conferences. Balancing conference commitments with non-conference games, managing contractual obligations, and adapting to evolving conference structures require careful planning and potential flexibility. The situation at Alabama underscores the challenges faced by athletic departments as they navigate a rapidly changing landscape.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne previously stated the program aims to maintain seven home games annually, which necessitates a strategic approach to non-conference scheduling. The addition of Georgia State, while providing a guaranteed home game, introduces a logistical puzzle that will require careful resolution in the coming months.
