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.
View Comments (6)
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.
Alabama/Mercer Rivalry
Yep, plenty of in-state options:
Troy
Jacksonville State
South Alabama
UAB
Samford
Alabama A&M
Alabama State
North Alabama
Even Auburn has faced a couple of these schools.
Pathetic clown games. I suggest using a point system for teams that play these type of games. To get into the playoff would require a certain amount of collected points to be eligible. Maybe a point given for a win over an fcs opponent and more points given for quality wins over conference and ranked opponents. Let’s get away from looking at wins and losses alone which is so misleading.
Ken, College Football needs cupcakes games whether you’re favored or opposed of it.
I guess we will have to wait until 2032 for Alabama to schedule 3 OOC FBS games.
2032
09/04 - Arizona
09/11 - USF
09/18 - at Minnesota
No doubt, the Tide will cancel one of these games (most likely the away game) and properly schedule another FCS opponent.