Byrne Notice presented by Mercedes-Benz
6/18/2026 5:09:00 PM | General
Football Game Times for 2026 Announced
Who's ready for some football?! Our football team's kickoff times/windows and networks for the upcoming 2026 season were released recently by the Southeastern Conference office and ESPN. As a reminder of how it works, the SEC-controlled football games for every member institution were assigned to a specific game window – Early, Afternoon, Night or Flex. The slots in Central Time are as follows: Early (11 a.m.-12 p.m.), Afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.), Night (5-7 p.m.) and Flex (2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.).
Each of our first three games will be televised on ABC, beginning when we open the season on Saturday, Sept. 5, vs. East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT. Our game at Kentucky on Sept. 12 as well as our home game vs. Florida State on Sept. 19 will both kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on the network. Â
Baseball Season Ends in Omaha
Despite our baseball team being eliminated at the College World Series, head coach Rob Vaughn and our boys have nothing to hang their head about after what was an historic season in 2026. As the national No. 7 seed, our team finished with 42 wins. The combined 83 victories over the last two seasons (2025-26) are its most in a two-year span since winning 84 games 20 years ago!Â
Additionally, the program returned to the Men's College World Series for the first time since 1999, as the Crimson Tide swept St. John's in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional to claim the best-of-three series. Alabama's berth in the MCWS stands as the program's sixth-ever appearance. Pretty impressive team accolades and a lot to be proud of about this baseball program – now and in the future. Congratulations on a great year!
Samuel Ogazi Wins Second Straight National Title to Highlight Eight Podium Finishes at Track and Field Nationals
Congratulations to Samuel Ogazi who highlighted our track and field team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships by winning a second consecutive outdoor national championship in the 400m. Sammy used a blistering 43.38 to defend his national title in the event, setting the Nigerian national record and the UA school record while becoming the fourth-fastest time in world history. In addition to that, Joycee Oguama used a throw of 59.98 meters (196-9) to finish second overall in the discus to secure the Crimson Tide's first top two finish in the event in 20 years (Beth Mallory, 2006).
On the track, five-time national champion Doris Lemngole initially crossed the finish line in first place in the 5,000-meter final with a time of 15:11.71. However, following the protest period, Lemngole was disqualified on a rules infraction for taking too many steps over the inside line. Despite that unfortunate outcome, Doris has been the ultimate champion on and off the track and cemented herself as one of the greatest student-athletes in the history of UA athletics.
In all, our track and field teams collected eight podium finishes throughout the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships, as the UA men finished tied for 12th place with 21 points, while the UA women ended tied for 15th with 20 points. Â
Men's and Women's Basketball Opponents Announced for ACC/SEC Challenge
Sticking with the theme of schedule announcements, both or men's and women's basketball teams announced their opponent in the 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge for the 2026-27 basketball seasons. Our men's team will travel to face the Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Watsco Center in Miami, Fla. Meanwhile, our women's squad will host Georgia Tech in its matchup, which is set for Thursday, Dec. 3, inside Coleman Coliseum.Â
Television destinations and tipoff times will be announced at a later date.
Crimson Tide Scholarship Fund Fiscal Year End Giving
Our fiscal year is nearing its end with the final day coming up on Tuesday, June 30. If you have not yet made a philanthropic contribution to Alabama Athletics this year, please consider donating to the Crimson Tide Scholarship Fund (CTSF). The CTSF is the annual scholarship fund for Alabama Athletics, offsetting the costs of tuition, educational fees, books, and room and board for our 500+ student-athletes. Donors to the CTSF earn three Tide Totals priority points per $100 donated. To learn more or to donate, visit crimsontidefoundation.org/ctsf.
University Spotlight
Congratulations to the 10 University of Alabama students who were selected by The Fulbright Program for various awards during the 2026-27 academic year. For those of you who aren't familiar, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program broadens perspectives through academic and professional growth and cross-cultural exchange. In partnership with more than 140 countries, it offers opportunities for graduating seniors, graduate students and young professionals to study, conduct research or teach English abroad. The program also supports knowledge, innovation and solutions to complex global challenges. Our school has had much success in the program as UA was recognized this past February as one of the nation's top producing institutions of Fulbright U.S. Students for the ninth time in the last 11 years. Congratulations to all those involved in what is an amazing academic accomplishment!
#RollTideFriday
Check out this beautiful photo of the Thomas Family, sent to me by Chris Thomas, in front of the Palace of Versailles in France! I'm always happy to see the Alabama Script A when it goes international! Remember if you want to submit a photo, use the hashtag #RollTideFriday in your social posts and tweet your photos to me at @Greg_Byrne.Â
