Alabama Added Mercer and Gardner-Webb to Schedule

The University of Alabama has scheduled non-conference football games for the 2027 and 2029 seasons.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Football

Alabama Added Mercer and Gardner-Webb to Schedule

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Alabama will host Mercer on September 11, 2027, and Gardner-Webb on October 13, 2029. Both FCS programs are set to receive $500,000 for their respective appearances in Tuscaloosa.

Why it matters

Securing these non-conference matchups allows Alabama to fill out its future schedule with guaranteed home games. The contests provide significant financial payouts for the visiting FCS opponents while maintaining traditional scheduling practices for the Crimson Tide.

Each visiting school will receive a $500,000 payout for the game. While this marks the first meeting for Gardner-Webb, Mercer has played the Alabama program five times previously.

The players

University of Alabama

The institution operates a major collegiate football program that competes in the Southeastern Conference.

Mercer University

This educational institution maintains an FCS football program that has faced the Crimson Tide on five prior occasions.

Gardner-Webb University

The university is a private school that supports an FCS football team scheduled to face Alabama for the first time in 2029.

The details

The University of Alabama athletic department finalized the agreements to bring both teams to Tuscaloosa for future seasons. These non-conference games continue the trend of high-profile programs scheduling FCS opponents, with the most recent Alabama-Mercer matchup taking place in 2024.

The most recent game between Alabama and Mercer occurred in 2024.
Alabama is scheduled to host Mercer on September 11, 2027.
Alabama is scheduled to host Gardner-Webb on October 13, 2029.

Season Trajectory

These scheduling decisions stabilize the Crimson Tide's long-term future non-conference slate against smaller programs. By securing these opponents years in advance, the athletic department maintains its established competitive balance and historical rhythm in program management.

These games provide the Crimson Tide with additional home contests in Tuscaloosa for the 2027 and 2029 seasons. Fans can anticipate these matchups as part of the non-conference rotation during those specific years.

The takeaway

Securing home games against FCS opponents like Mercer and Gardner-Webb remains a standard practice for top-tier collegiate football programs. These scheduling contracts provide necessary financial support for smaller athletic departments while rounding out the Crimson Tide's future schedule.