Two future Alabama football games have been automatically shifted to earlier dates due to an NCAA rule change that takes effect next season.
The change, announced in June, establishes a uniform 14‑week regular season beginning in 2027. As part of that adjustment, FBS programs will be permitted to start most seasons during what is currently known as Week Zero—the weekend that is one week before Labor Day weeekend—which will become the standard Week 1.
Because the possibility of this rule change was known in advance, several future game contracts already included contingency language addressing a potential move to Week Zero. Two of those agreements involved Alabama.
In October 2025, Alabama signed a contract to host Marshall in 2027. The game was originally scheduled for September 4 but will now be played one week earlier, on August 28, under the rule change.
Contract language obtained via a previous public records request spells out the shift:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the NCAA or a similar or successor governing body adopts or implements, prior to April 30, 2027, a rule, regulation, or directive that moves the permissible start date of the college football season to “Week Zero,” (defined for purposes of this Agreement as the week that includes August 28, 2027), the parties hereby agree that the Game shall be rescheduled from September 4, 2027, to August 28, 2027. In the event of this schedule change, except as expressly modified herein, all other terms and conditions of this Agreement would remain in full force and effect.
Alabama announced another future home game in February—a 2028 matchup with Georgia State originally slated for September 2. Similar language in that contract moves the contest up one week to August 26.
A third Alabama game has also been shifted to the new Week 1. As reported last month, the Crimson Tide will host Louisiana Tech on August 25, 2029, instead of the originally scheduled September 8 date.
According to copies of the contracts, Alabama will pay Marshall and Georgia State guarantees of $1.35 million each, while Louisiana Tech will receive $1,382,500.
[ h/t al.com]
