The NCAA Transfer Portal window has officially closed, and in its wake, Alabama finds itself facing a 2026 season packed with familiar faces - just not in Crimson. Over a whirlwind two-week stretch, the Crimson Tide saw six players exit the program and land at schools they’ll now face on the upcoming regular season schedule. For Kalen DeBoer, that adds a new wrinkle to what was already shaping up to be a pivotal year in Tuscaloosa.
Let’s break it down: six of Alabama’s 22 outgoing transfers have landed at SEC rivals or future opponents. That’s not just roster attrition - that’s the kind of movement that could shift game plans and locker room dynamics.
It all started on January 2, when reserve offensive lineman Olaus Alinen hit the portal and headed north to Lexington to join Kentucky. While Alinen didn’t see significant playing time in Tuscaloosa, his move to an SEC East opponent means Alabama will now have to deal with a former teammate in Week 2.
Just a day later, the Tide saw a double-dip of departures: offensive lineman Micah DeBose and wide receiver/punt returner Cole Adams both entered the portal and chose Vanderbilt as their next destination. Clark Lea’s Commodores may not be the SEC’s biggest threat on paper, but adding two former Alabama recruits gives them a boost - and adds some spice to Alabama’s Week 10 trip to Nashville.
Then came Wilkin Formby. The offensive tackle had his ups and downs in Tuscaloosa, but he’s now headed to College Station to join Texas A&M. While his departure might not have shocked many, it’s still notable that he’ll be lining up against his former team when the Aggies visit Bryant-Denny in Week 8.
On the defensive side, Alabama took a hit when edge rusher Kelby Collins transferred to South Carolina. Collins was a one-year contributor under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, and now he’ll be suiting up for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. That reunion is set for Week 4 in Tuscaloosa.
But perhaps the most surprising move came from wide receiver Isaiah Horton. A fan favorite with flashes of big-play potential, Horton opted to follow Formby to Texas A&M, creating a double reunion when the Aggies come to town. That matchup in Week 8 just got a whole lot more personal.
Here’s how the 2026 regular-season matchups now line up for Alabama, with a few familiar names on the other sideline:
Week 2: @ Kentucky
- OL Olaus Alinen
Week 4: vs South Carolina
- DL Kelby Collins
Week 8: vs Texas A&M
- OL Wilkin Formby
- WR Isaiah Horton
Week 10: @ Vanderbilt
- OL Micah DeBose
- WR Cole Adams
What does this all mean? Well, for one, Alabama’s coaching staff will have some extra film to break down this offseason.
These aren’t just any transfers - they’re players who practiced against Tide starters, sat in the same meeting rooms, and know the system. That familiarity cuts both ways, and it’ll be fascinating to see how those matchups unfold on the field.
For fans, it’s another layer of drama in a conference that already delivers more than its share. Whether these former Tide players thrive in their new homes or not, their presence on the schedule makes Alabama’s 2026 season even more compelling. Come September, we’ll find out if the grass really is greener - or if these transfers will come to regret trading Crimson for a new shade.