West Virginia football made a big statement scheduling Alabama, but the timing of the game makes it an even better win for the Mountaineers.
After refusing to play true road games against Power 5 teams for some time, Alabama has loosened up their non-conference scheduling. Home and away rotations against Texas and Notre Dame were already on the Tide’s schedule prior to their most recent additions against West Virginia.
The Mountaineers will host the Crimson Tide in 2026. They’ll make the return trip to Tuscaloosa in 2027. The eight-year gap between the day these games were scheduled and the first kickoff in 2026 make it all the more likely Nick Sabana won’t be the head coach in either contest.
The six-time national champion will turn 68 this fall. If he did stick it out with Alabama til the September of the first West Virginia game he’d be one month from turning 75. After achieving as much as he has, Saban will get to go out on his terms. Few coaches have stuck around that far into their late 70s — even Bill Snyder decided 79 was time to take a break.
That’s what makes the timing of this series so important. There’s no telling which players and coaches will be on the field for this game, but West Virginia will still receiver the benefit of the doubt for scheduling one of college football’s biggest brands. How much more impressive will it be if the coach behind Saban stumbles early on, dropping a dangerous road game in Morgantown? Crazier things have happened.
Scheduling this game does much more for West Virginia than it does for Alabama. Even if they lose, the Mountaineers will get credit for making an attempt. If they win they could notch a resume-building win on their quest to their first College Football Playoff appearance. That’s a long ways away, but the future is bright for West Virginia football.