The Alabama Crimson Tide have added two Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponents to their future schedules, FBSchedules.com has learned.
Copies of game contracts were obtained from the University of Alabama through a state open‑records request.
Alabama will host the Mercer Bears on September 11, 2027, at Saban Field at Bryant‑Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Bears will receive a $500,000 guarantee for the matchup, according to the agreement.
Mercer, a member of the Southern Conference, has faced Alabama five times in a series that began in 1939. The Crimson Tide won the most recent meeting — a 52–7 victory in 2024 — and lead the all‑time series 5–0.
Alabama is scheduled to open the 2027 season at home on August 28 against Marshall, a game moved up from its original September 4 date, before traveling to face Ohio State on September 18.
The SEC previously announced the league opponents for 2027. Alabama hosts Florida, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, while traveling to Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss.
The Crimson Tide have also added Gardner‑Webb to a future slate. The Runnin’ Bulldogs, members of the Ohio Valley Conference, will visit Tuscaloosa on October 13, 2029, marking the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Per the contract, Gardner‑Webb will receive the same guarantee as Mercer — $500,000.
Alabama’s 2029 non-league slate is now complete with the addition of Gardner-Webb. The Crimson Tide open the season at home against Louisiana Tech on August 25 before traveling to Notre Dame on Sept. 1.
2029 SEC opponents include Arkansas, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Tennessee at home, with Auburn, Florida, Missouri, and Texas on the road.
Mercer and Gardner‑Webb become the third and fourth FCS opponents on Alabama’s upcoming schedules. The Tide are set to host Chattanooga later this season on November 21 and will welcome UT Martin on September 16, 2028.
Very strange Alabama avoids playing almost all other in-state programs, G6 or FCS. Avoiding helping regional Alabama schools. What is their deal?
They sure like to play Mercer a lot.