TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — College football fans, check your calendars and get ready.
One of the most intriguing games on Saturday’s national schedule is almost here as the Alabama Crimson Tide welcome the Florida State Seminoles to Tuscaloosa for a highly anticipated rematch between two of college football’s biggest brands.
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The matchup is officially scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m.
CT at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. ABC will carry the game nationally.
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And this isn’t just another nonconference game.
There is unfinished business involved.
ALABAMA ENTERS UNDEFEATED
Alabama couldn’t have asked for a much stronger beginning to its 2026 campaign.
The Crimson Tide opened the season with a convincing 48-10 victory over East Carolina before traveling to Lexington and defeating Kentucky 45-17.
That leaves Alabama at 2-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC play heading into Saturday’s showdown.
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Now the Crimson Tide return home for a completely different challenge.
Florida State is coming to Tuscaloosa.
For Alabama, the opportunity is obvious: protect home field, move to 3-0 and continue building momentum before another home game against South Carolina.
But there is another element making this matchup especially interesting.
Revenge.
FLORIDA STATE ALREADY KNOWS HOW TO BEAT ALABAMA
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These programs met in Tallahassee to open the 2025 season, and Florida State walked away with a 31-17 victory over the Crimson Tide.
Now the series moves to Alabama.
That changes everything.
Bryant-Denny Stadium should be packed, and Alabama supporters haven’t forgotten what happened one year ago.
The Crimson Tide will have an opportunity to answer that defeat in front of their own crowd.
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Florida State, meanwhile, gets an opportunity to prove last year’s result wasn’t a one-time surprise.
That storyline alone gives Saturday’s matchup a different level of intensity.
FLORIDA STATE ARRIVES LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE
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The Seminoles enter Saturday at 1-1.
Florida State opened the season by defeating New Mexico State 34-17 before suffering a narrow 27-24 loss to No. 19 SMU.
Now comes arguably an even more difficult assignment: going into Tuscaloosa and trying to defeat an undefeated Alabama team.
For Florida State, this is an immediate opportunity to change the early conversation surrounding its season.
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A road victory against Alabama would be enormous.
But achieving it will require the Seminoles to handle one of the most intimidating environments in college football.
BRYANT-DENNY WILL BE READY
Everything surrounding the afternoon is designed to create a major-event atmosphere.
Alabama has designated the Florida State matchup as a special game day featuring honorary captains Bo Scarbrough and Levi Wallace, while country group Parmalee is scheduled to perform as part of Alabama’s Champions Lane concert series.
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Once kickoff arrives, however, none of that will matter.
The focus will shift entirely to the field.
Can Florida State withstand Alabama’s early pressure?
Can the Seminoles prevent the Crimson Tide crowd from taking over the game?
Can Alabama turn last season’s disappointment into motivation?
And perhaps most importantly, which team will remain composed if the game is still close deep into the second half?
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The most important message for supporters is simple: don’t miss kickoff.
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
⏰ 3:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM CT
🏟️ Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama
📺 ABC
🔥 Alabama record: 2-0
🔥 Florida State record: 1-1
The stakes may not officially be championship-or-bust in September, but games like this can shape how an entire season is viewed.
Alabama has the undefeated record.
Florida State has last year’s victory.
The Crimson Tide have home-field advantage.
The Seminoles have an opportunity to silence one of college football’s loudest stadiums.
Two powerhouse programs.
One national television stage.
And plenty of unfinished business.
🚨 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE vs. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES.
Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa is about to get very interesting.
Don’t miss a single minute.
