Alabama Basketball 2026: Schedule, Roster, Exhibition Games, Coach Nate Oats and Every Live Update

Alabama basketball enters the 2026-27 season as a projected top-15 program under head coach Nate Oats, with a rebuilt roster, a pair of exhibition tune-ups and a non-conference schedule designed to test SEC title credentials. The Crimson Tide's official 2026-27 schedule was released in September 2026, and the team opens regular-season play in early November after exhibition games in late October. According to the SEC's 2026 preseason media poll released October 14, Alabama was picked third in the conference behind Kentucky and Tennessee.

What is Alabama basketball's 2026-27 schedule?

Alabama's 2026-27 schedule features 31 regular-season games, including 18 SEC contests, a Thanksgiving-week neutral-site event and marquee non-conference matchups against Purdue, Arizona and Houston. The SEC released the full conference slate on September 24, 2026, confirming Alabama's home-and-home series with Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

Who is on the Alabama basketball roster for 2026-27?

Alabama's 2026-27 roster blends returning SEC experience with a top-five transfer portal class, headlined by former five-star guard Derrion Reid and transfer wing Aden Holloway. According to 247Sports' 2026 team rankings updated October 12, Alabama's incoming class ranked No. 4 nationally.

• Guards: Mark Sears (returning senior), Aden Holloway (transfer), Labaron Philon (sophomore), Derrion Reid (freshman)
• Wings: Chris Youngblood (transfer), Mouhamed Dioubate (junior)
• Bigs: Clifford Omoruyi (returning), Jarin Stevenson (sophomore), Aiden Sherrell (freshman)

When are Alabama basketball's exhibition games in 2026?

Alabama plays two exhibition games in October 2026: Montevallo on October 24 in Tuscaloosa and Memphis on October 30 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Both games are closed to regular-season ticket packages and require separate exhibition admission per the Alabama athletics department.

Who is Alabama basketball's coach in 2026?

Nate Oats remains Alabama's head coach in 2026, entering his eighth season in Tuscaloosa after signing a contract extension through the 2030-31 season in March 2026. Oats has led Alabama to four Sweet 16 appearances and the 2024 Final Four, and his 2026-27 team is projected as a top-four seed by ESPN Bracketology (Joe Lunardi, October 15, 2026).

What is Alabama basketball's record against Ole Miss in 2026?

Alabama and Ole Miss meet twice in the 2026-27 SEC regular season, with the first matchup set for December 6, 2026 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide swept the Rebels in 2025-26 and lead the all-time series 78-58, per Alabama athletics records.

Is Alabama basketball playing tonight?

Alabama basketball is not playing tonight, October 16, 2026. The Crimson Tide's next game is the October 24 exhibition against Montevallo at Coleman Coliseum. Regular-season play begins November 4 against Arkansas State.

How does Alabama basketball compare to Tennessee and Kentucky in 2026?

Alabama trails Kentucky and Tennessee in the 2026 SEC preseason poll but holds a higher projected NCAA Tournament seed than both in ESPN's October 15 Bracketology update. The three programs are separated by fewer than 40 points in the KenPom preseason ratings.

What do insiders say about Alabama's 2026 outlook?

"Alabama has the most balanced roster Oats has had since the 2024 Final Four team. The question is whether the backcourt can replace the shot creation they lost in the portal." - Jeff Borzello, ESPN recruiting analyst, October 2026

For broader SEC and national college basketball context, see our related coverage of ESPN college basketball and the official SEC men's basketball page.