The Alabama Crimson Tide will face the South Carolina Gamecocks for the third straight year when the teams meet at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 4 of the 2026 college football season.
Alabama
(3-0 overall, 1-0 SEC), which is No. 8 in this week's US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll, overcame a slow start and Mother Nature to defeat the Florida State Seminoles, 50-36, behind an electric day from quarterback Keelon Russell.Russell threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, completing 23 of his 30 passes. He took off for a 57-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to finish a long day with 376 all-purpose yards.
Alabama's running backs helped out tremendously. Daniel Hill and freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown all rushed for a touchdown and 50
or more yards. Brown led the way with 12 carries for 86 yards as the Crimson Tide averaged 6.9 per rush and ran for 247 total.
South Carolina (2-1, 0-1) jumped out to a 16-0 lead on Mississippi State in the teams' SEC opener in Week 3 at Williams-Brice Stadium, but the Bulldogs rallied for a 41-34 victory behind another electric performance by Kamario Taylor. Third-year Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off twice. He added 52 rushing carries on 14 attempts.
South Carolina took Alabama down to the wire in both head-to-head meetings between coaches Kalen DeBoer and Shane Beamer the last two seasons. What chances do the Gamecocks have of beating the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for only the second time in program history?
Will Alabama football avoid upset vs. South Carolina? ESPN's prediction
Oddsmakers have Alabama as a 12.5-point favorite over South Carolina, but, as always, ESPN Analytics has its own odds for Saturday's games.
ESPN's matchup predictor, which offers a prediction model based on its college football power index and other variables, gives Alabama an 82.2% chance to win. South Carolina has a 17.8% chance.
The Crimson Tide are seventh nationally in ESPN's FPI ratings and are third among SEC teams. Alabama has a 22.3 overall FPI rating (down slightly from 23.2 last week). South Carolina has a 12.1 FPI rating that is 27th in ESPN's metrics.
Alabama football odds of reaching College Football Playoff after grueling win over FSU
In ESPN's FPI entering Week 4, Alabama's chances of reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff are 57.8%, up from 54.3% last week. It's the seventh-best overall odds of reaching the CFP among power conference teams and Notre Dame, and it's the third best among SEC team behind Texas and Georgia.
The Crimson Tide are given a 12.2% chance of winning the SEC championship (virtually the same as last week's 12.1%), a 12.1% chance of reaching the national championship game (up from 11.2%) on Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and a 5.6% shot of winning the national title (up slightly from 5.2% a week ago).
Alabama is one spot behind the Miami Hurricanes (23.9) in the FPI and one spot ahead of the LSU Tigers (20.3).
SEC football teams ranked by ESPN FPI: conference dark horse continues rising
Mississippi State's come-from-behind win at South Carolina moved the Bulldogs up another three spots from last week. It's the second straight week coach Jeff Lebby's squad has surged three spots among SEC teams in ESPN's football power index ratings.
Ole Miss also rose two spots after its cathartic win over Lane Kiffin and LSU, and Tennessee climbed into the top five for the first time this season behind the play of freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon and others.
Here is where Alabama and all 16 SEC teams rank in ESPN's FPI:
- 16. Arkansas Razorbacks (-1.6 FPI)
- 15. Vanderbilt Commodores (6.1 FPI)
- 14. Kentucky Wildcats (8.5 FPI)
- 13. Missouri Tigers (10.5 FPI)
- 12. South Carolina Gamecocks (12.1 FPI)
- 11. Auburn Tigers (12.9 FPI)
- 10. Mississippi State Bulldogs (14.1 FPI)
- 9. Florida Gators (16.4 FPI)
- 8. Oklahoma Sooners (16.7 FPI)
- 7. Ole Miss Rebels (17.7 FPI)
- 6. Texas A&M Aggies (18.2 FPI)
- 5. Tennessee Volunteers (18.5 FPI)
- 4. LSU Tigers (20.3 FPI)
- 3. Alabama Crimson Tide (22.3 FPI)
- 2. Georgia Bulldogs (27.1 FPI)
- 1. Texas Longhorns (28.1 FPI)
What are ESPN FPI ratings?
ESPN explains:
"The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. FPI data from seasons prior to 2019 may not be complete."
Alabama football vs. South Carolina start time, TV information
TV channel, commentators for Alabama football vs. South Carolina
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) September 22, 2026
📸 David Leong, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/0KdIZuW0FJ pic.twitter.com/gwPmkoR7Qy
Kickoff for Alabama-South Carolina in Week 4 of the 2026 college football season is 6 p.m. CT Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The game can be seen on ESPN. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will have the call of the game. Taylor McGregor will report from the sidelines.
Alabama football schedule 2026
All times Central.
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina Pirates (W, 48-10)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky Wildcats (W, 45-17)
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State Seminoles (W, 50-36)
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, 6 p.m., ESPN
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State Bulldogs, 11 a.m. or 11:45 a.m., ABC, ESPN or SEC Network
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia Bulldogs, prime time
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee Volunteers, TBA
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M Aggies, TBA
- Nov. 7: at LSU Tigers, TBA
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt Commodores, TBA
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn Tigers, TBA
Record: 3-0 overall, 1-0 SEC.
'College GameDay' announces Week 4 location, choosing new SEC venue
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) September 22, 2026
📸 Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/sZ8aut8R9v pic.twitter.com/4n350nRBmV
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: ESPN predicts the winner of Alabama football vs. South Carolina
