Despite the Alabama Crimson Tide football team dominating weaker opponents more often than most college football fans would like, they're still must-see television, especially when it comes to early-season matchups. The Tide have September games planned against the USC Trojans and Miami Hurricanes over the next few seasons. After that, a few massive home-and-home series are now in place.
During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Alabama will play the Texas Longhorns early in September. Way down the road in 2028-29, the Crimson Tide will face against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in what's sure to be one of the most-watched games of the year. Sandwiched between those two series, the Tide added a Big 12 opponent that's sure to light up the scoreboard when these teams meet.
University of Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne announced that the Crimson Tide will play a future home-and-home football series against West Virginia University. The first game will be in Morgantown on September 5, 2026 and the second will be in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 4, 2027.
"We are pleased to be able to add another premier, non-conference opponent to our future home-and-homes with West Virginia. This series gives our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans the opportunity to play in and experience outstanding on-campus matchups to open the 2026 and 2027 seasons. As we continue to build out our future schedules, we will work to include even more home-and-homes of this caliber."
— Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne
Coincidentally, WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons was the AD at Alabama before leaving in 2015 to take his current role with the Mountaineers.
"With its great tradition and history, it will be exciting to host the Crimson Tide in Morgantown, and it will provide our fans with a great trip to visit Tuscaloosa the following season," Lyons said. "Our non-conference football scheduling and the quality of opponents we are playing continue to be second to none."
Alabama vs. West Virginia
Unless they happen to meet in a potential bowl game or the College Football Playoff before then, these two games will only be the second and third times these programs have ever played each other. The only other game between them was the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta back in 2014. Alabama won that game over quarterback Clint Trickett and the Mountaineers, 33-23, thanks to a combined 239 rushing yards and three touchdowns from running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry.
This future matchup should make for awesome fireworks, and hopefully gets the haters off of Alabama's back for not adding a high-quality of opponents to their non-conference schedule.
This article was originally published February 22, 2019.
