South Carolina's first road game of the 2026 season will come on Sept. 26 with a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. The Gamecocks will return to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time since coming up just short in 2024.
In the overall series between the two teams, Alabama owns a 13-4 record. The Crimson Tide have won the last three matchups with the last victory for the Gamecocks coming in the 2010 upset. The Gamecocks last victory in Tuscaloosa came in a 20-3 victory in 2004.
Last season, Alabama finished with a 11-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in SEC play. The Crimson Tide defeated Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff but fell to the eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
This season, Alabama will take on East Carolina, Kentucky and Florida State before welcoming South Carolina to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Below, we will take a look at what South Carolina will face off against when its travels to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama.
OFFENSE
Keelon Russell (Photo: University of Alabama)
Last season, Alabama scored 29.5 points per game, which finished 10th in the SEC. The Crimson Tide averaged 367.7 yards per game (11th) on 263.5 passing (4th) and 104.1 rushing (15th).
Offensively, Alabama has a quarterback battle taking place to replace Ty Simpson. Throughout spring and now into the summer, Keelon Russell and Austin Mack are battling to earn the starting job.
Last season, Russell completed 11-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. The former five-star quarterback was ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 class. Mack, who transferred from Washington to Alabama with DeBoer, completed 24-of-32 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns last season.
The Crimson Tide's leading rusher from last season in Jam Miller is off to the NFL while Daniel Hill returns after recording 284 yards and six touchdowns last season. Kevin Riley, who tallied 224 yards and two scores a year ago, also returns to the Crimson Tide's running back room.
Germie Bernard, the leading receiver from last season, was a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ryan Williams and Lotzeir Brooks, who finished second and fourth on the team with 689 and 441 yards, respectively, return in 2026. Isaiah Horton, who finished third in receiving with 511 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns, transferred to Texas A&M.
In the transfer portal, Alabama added N.C. State transfer Noah Rogers, who caught 68 passes for 919 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack.
On the offensive line, Alabama has to replace offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, who was a first-round selection by the Miami Dolphins. Center Parker Brailsford is also off to the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns.
DEFENSE
Bray Hubbard (Photo: Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images, Getty)
In 2025, Alabama's defense allowed opponents to score 19.2 points per game, which finished fourth in the SEC. Opponents averaged a total of 296.8 yards per game (3rd) on 173.5 passing (2nd) and 103.9 rushing (4th).
Alabama's trio of linebackers in Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill-Green are off to the NFL as each finished in the top four in tackles on the team last season. At linebacker, Yhonzae Pierre returns after leading the team in sacks with eight among his 52 total tackles. Caleb Woodson, who transferred from Virginia Tech, could be a name to keep an eye on at linebacker for the Crimson Tide. Former South Carolina EDGE Desmond Umeozulu is listed as a linebacker on Alabama's roster.
Safety Bray Hubbard is the leading returning tackler as he logged 74 tackles while also leading the team in pass breakups and interceptions with eight and four, respectively. Fellow safety Keon Sabb also returns in 2026 after being credited with 52 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception last season.
At cornerback, Domani Jackson was a sixth-round selection by the Green Bay Packers. Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee Jr., who combined for 71 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions, return at the position. Red Morgan is also another to know in the Crimson Tide's secondary as he took a step forward as a sophomore last season.
On the interior of the defensive line, the Crimson Tide have to replace LT Overton and Tim Keenan, who were both NFL Draft selections. Kedrick Bingley-Jones makes his way to Tuscaloosa after logging 25 tackles for Mississippi State last season. Southern Cal transfer Devan Thompkins, who totaled 31 tackles and three sacks last season, makes his way to Tuscaloosa along with fellow four-star transfer Terrance Green, who spent last season at Oregon.
SPECIAL TEAMS
(Photo: Photo by CFP/Getty Images, Getty)
At place kicker, Conor Talty returns after connecting on 16-of-23 field goal attempts and each of his 48 extra points in 2025. Talty finished the 2025 season 7-of-10 on field goals from 40-49 yards out. He also missed two attempts from 20-29 yards out.
Punter Blake Doud, who averaged 42.3 yards per attempt in his final year of eligibility, has to be replaced. Adam Watford, a North Alabama transfer, averaged 46.5 yards per attempt last season. He also recorded a long of 74 yards and a total of 17 punts of 50-plus yards.
Cole Adams handled the punt return duties last season and has to be replaced after he transferred to Vanderbilt. Brown and Lee both returned two punts in 2025. Brooks returns as the primary kickoff returner as he averaged 18.8 yards per return on 15 attempts.