Alabama to Wear Crimson Jerseys vs. Arkansas State
The No. 20 Crimson Tide will swap their usual white home uniforms for crimson in Friday's matchup at Coleman Coliseum.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
Alabama men's basketball will wear crimson jerseys instead of its customary white for a home game against Arkansas State on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. Arkansas State asked Alabama if it did not mind wearing crimson, and the Crimson Tide agreed.
Why it matters
Under college basketball convention the home team wears white unless the teams agree otherwise, so the uniform change reflects a request made by the visiting program. The game also pits Alabama against a team coached by a former Crimson Tide assistant.
Alabama enters the game ranked No. 20 after a 96-74 win over Sam Houston, while Arkansas State began the season with a 71-70 victory over Toledo. The extraction does not address how either team's offensive or defensive metrics compare to prior seasons.
The players
Nate Oats
Nate Oats is the head men's basketball coach at Alabama, known for leading the Crimson Tide's up-tempo offensive system.
Ryan Pannone
Ryan Pannone is the head coach of Arkansas State in his second season, having previously served as an offensive coordinator on Alabama's staff under Nate Oats.
The details
Alabama agreed to wear crimson jerseys at the request of Arkansas State, whose coach Ryan Pannone spent two seasons on Nate Oats' Alabama staff running the offense. Oats announced the uniform change on Thursday ahead of the Friday game at Coleman Coliseum.
Timeline
Thursday: Nate Oats announces the crimson jersey change.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT: Alabama hosts Arkansas State at Coleman Coliseum, broadcast on SEC Network+.
Season Trajectory
The matchup extends Alabama's early-season run as a ranked team while testing a visiting program that opened its year with a one-point road-style win. Arkansas State's connection to Alabama's coaching tree gives the game added context within the Sun Belt and SEC scheduling landscape.
Fans attending Friday's game at Coleman Coliseum should expect Alabama in crimson rather than its usual white. The uniform change is a one-time accommodation tied to this single matchup.
The takeaway
Uniform conventions in college basketball can shift by mutual agreement, and this matchup shows how a visiting team's request can change the look of a home game. Readers following the Crimson Tide can track the result on Friday evening.
What happens next
Alabama's next scheduled home game follows this Friday's matchup against Arkansas State, with the date to be confirmed by the team schedule.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage across Tuscaloosa.
