Alabama's football program made headlines on Monday with the announcement that Georgia State will be joining their 2028 season opener at home. With the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule, Alabama now faces a decision on which non-conference game to drop.
The Crimson Tide's 2028 lineup already includes matchups against Ohio State, UT-Martin, and Oklahoma State. With the addition of Georgia State, one of these games will need to be removed from the schedule.
Here's a look at the current non-conference schedule:
- Sept. 9 - Ohio State
- Sept. 16 - UT-Martin
- Sept. 23 - at Oklahoma State
This scheduling dilemma echoes a familiar scenario. Last season, the Texas Longhorns, with a 10-3 record, narrowly missed the College Football Playoff.
One of their losses came from a challenging road game against Ohio State in the season opener. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian later expressed frustration over being penalized for scheduling tough non-conference opponents.
Given this context, there's speculation that Alabama might consider dropping the Ohio State game. While nothing is confirmed, head coach Kalen DeBoer and his team will need to make some strategic decisions regarding their 2028 schedule.
Looking ahead, Alabama will kick off their next season with a home game against East Carolina on Sept. 5. The Crimson Tide's scheduling choices in the coming years will undoubtedly be crucial as they navigate the evolving landscape of college football.