With just over a month until Alabama football kicks off the 2026 season, there's no shortage of talk about the Crimson Tide's 2026 roster, schedule and potential pitfalls in the months ahead.
Kalen DeBoer enters his third season after Alabama suffered a second straight four-loss campaign in 2025. It wasn't without its merits. Alabama won 11 games, made the SEC Championship Game. and won a College Football Playoff game -- on the road at Oklahoma, no less.
The Crimson Tide are looking to duplicate or exceed their win total from a year ago, but it won't be easy.
After the SEC's decision to expand to nine conference games, Alabama faces a bigger challenge scheduling-wise than at any point under DeBoer. ESPN Analytics ranks the Crimson Tide with the 15th
toughest strength of schedule in the nation.
Alabama faces two non-Power Four teams on its schedule: East Carolina in the Tide's season opener and the Chattanooga Mocs from the Football Championship Subdivision in late November.
Who are Alabama's most difficult opponents this season? Here's a look at all 12 teams the Crimson Tide will face in 2026, ranked in order of their preseason Football Power Index ratings from ESPN.
12. Chattanooga Mocs
- Date: Nov. 21
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: N/A
- 2025 Record: 5-7 overall
11. East Carolina Pirates
- Date: Sept. 5
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: -0.6, 68th nationally
- 2025 Record: 9-4 overall
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Date: Oct. 3
- Where: Davis Wade Stadium
- FPI rating: 4.1, 49th nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-8 overall
9. Kentucky Wildcats
- Date: Sept. 12
- Where: Kroger Field
- FPI rating: 5.4, 40th nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-7 overall
8. Vanderbilt Commodores
- Date: Nov. 14
- Where: FirstBank Stadium
- FPI rating: 9.0, 29th nationally
- 2025 Record: 10-3 overall
7. Florida State Seminoles
- Date: Sept. 19
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: 9.3, 28th nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-8 overall
6. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Date: Sept. 26
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: 11.7, 23rd nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-8 overall
5. Auburn Tigers
- Date: Nov. 28
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: 12.0, 22nd nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-7 overall
4. Tennessee Volunteers
- Date: Oct. 17
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- FPI rating: 15.1, 16th nationally
- 2025 Record: 8-5 overall
3. Texas A&M Aggies
- Date: Oct. 24
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: 20.0, 11th nationally
- 2025 Record: 5-8 overall
2. LSU Tigers
- Date: Nov. 7
- Where: Tiger Stadium
- FPI rating: 20.0, 9th nationally
- 2025 Record: 7-6 overall
1. Georgia Bulldogs
- Date: Oct. 10
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- FPI rating: 24.8, fifth nationally
- 2025 Record: 12-2 overall
Where Alabama ranks in preseason ESPN Football Power Index
Alabama has a 20.1 overall rating, which places eighth nationally.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Ranking Alabama football's 2026 opponents from easiest to toughest
