The highly anticipated home-and-home series between Alabama and Ohio State in 2027 and 2028 is looking more and more like a long shot. According to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, the Crimson Tide may be backing away from the marquee non-conference matchup - and not just because of scheduling logistics. There’s a deeper story unfolding in Tuscaloosa, one that involves shifting priorities, heightened internal pressure, and the evolving landscape of the SEC.
Speaking on 97.1 The Fan, Finebaum pointed to Alabama’s current state - both on the field and behind the scenes - as a major reason why the Buckeyes may not be making that trip down south after all.
“I sincerely doubt the Alabama game is going to happen based on what I’ve heard from Alabama’s AD,” Finebaum said. “He’s got a shaky situation there anyway with a coach that is in trouble.”
That coach, of course, is Kalen DeBoer. Now in his second year at the helm, DeBoer has faced a rocky start by Alabama standards.
After a 9-4 debut season in 2024, DeBoer’s squad improved to 11-4 last year - but the losses have been tough to swallow. The Crimson Tide opened the 2025 season with a loss to Florida State and ended it with a lopsided Rose Bowl defeat at the hands of Indiana.
For a program used to competing for national titles every year, that’s a hard pill to digest.
Finebaum hasn’t shied away from calling out the pressure DeBoer is under. While he acknowledges DeBoer’s strong overall résumé - a 124-20 career record over 10 seasons - he’s openly questioned whether the former Washington coach is the right cultural fit for a program still operating in the shadow of Nick Saban’s legendary run. Alabama fans have grown restless, and when expectations are sky-high, even 11 wins can feel like a letdown.
But this isn’t just about coaching. The SEC is set to expand to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026, and that change alone is reshaping how programs approach non-conference play. For Alabama, adding another heavyweight like Ohio State to an already brutal SEC slate could be viewed as unnecessary risk - especially if the program is still finding its footing under DeBoer.
That’s where athletic director Greg Byrne comes in. According to Finebaum, Byrne is likely weighing the competitive and financial implications of keeping the Ohio State series on the books. And with the Tide facing internal uncertainty and external pressure, there’s a growing sense that risk management might win out over marquee matchups.
“Georgia might do it because they’re a little more in-tune,” Finebaum added, implying that Alabama may not be in the same position to take on such a high-profile challenge right now.
If the series is ultimately canceled, it would be yet another sign of how conference realignment and expansion are changing the face of college football. The days of heavyweight non-conference showdowns may be numbered - not because teams don’t want to compete, but because the stakes have never been higher within their own leagues.
For now, Ohio State fans can still hope the trip to Tuscaloosa happens. But based on what we’re hearing from inside the Alabama camp, don’t be surprised if this one quietly disappears from the calendar.