FINAL: Alabama 48, East Carolina 10 – The No. 13 Crimson Tide overwhelmed the Pirates in Tuscaloosa, rushing to a 38-7 halftime lead and cruising to a non-conference victory. Alabama outgained ECU 487-162 and held the Pirates to just five first downs.
East Carolina will open its 2026 football season against one of college football’s most iconic programs, traveling to face the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
The matchup marks just the second all-time meeting between the Pirates and Alabama and ECU’s 26th game all-time against an SEC opponent. It will serve as the season opener for both teams.
Former Wake Forest and Texas Tech quarterback Mitch Griffis is expected to get the start for the Pirates. Extreme heat could be a factor, with game-time temperatures expected to be around 100.
🔄 Last Updated: September 5, 2026 3:58 pm
🏟️ ECU at Alabama Game Center
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Records: East Carolina 0-0 | Alabama 0-0
TV/Stream: ABC-TV
Announcers: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter)
Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM/94.3 The Game
Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny and dangerously hot; temperatures climbing toward 100°F with a heat index near 110°F
Spread: Alabama -27.5
Over/Under: 52.5 points
Moneyline: ECU +2200 | Alabama -8000
Lines via DraftKings, September 1, 2026
🩹 Injury Updates
- Five-star Alabama freshman running back EJ Crowell is working his way back from an ankle injury that kept him out of Alabama’s preseason scrimmages. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said this week that Crowell is progressing, raising the possibility that he could be available Saturday against East Carolina.
- East Carolina wide receiver Landon Sides is dealing with a hamstring injury and was not listed on ECU’s initial depth chart for Saturday. Coach Blake Harrell acknowledged Monday that Sides is nursing the injury, putting his availability for the Alabama game in question.
- Running back Michael Allen also was not listed on the Week 1 depth chart after missing ECU’s Aug. 22 scrimmage with an undisclosed issue. Ashton Gray is listed as the Pirates’ starting running back, with TJ Engleman Jr. behind him.
🔍 What to Know About ECU-Alabama
What time is the East Carolina at Alabama football game?
ECU and Alabama kick off at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local time) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL.
How to watch the ECU vs Alabama football game?
The ECU-Alabama season opener will air on ABC-TV, with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter) as the broadcast team.
How can I listen to ECU-Alabama on the radio?
The East Carolina-Alabama game can be heard on WNCT 107.9 FM and 94.3 The Game. ECU football broadcasts are also available through the Pirates’ radio network.
How hot will it be for ECU-Alabama?
Extreme heat could be a factor Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Alabama meteorologist James Spann is forecasting temperatures of 97 to 100 degrees by the fourth quarter, with the heat index potentially approaching 110 degrees. With kickoff set for 11 a.m. local time, East Carolina and Alabama could play much of the game in
ECU gets an immediate measuring stick
East Carolina enters 2026 coming off a nine-win season and a second consecutive bowl victory over an ACC opponent. The Pirates won’t get much time to ease into the new season, opening on the road against a nationally ranked Alabama team that reached the College Football Playoff last season.
Pirates plan to use two quarterbacks
Mitch Griffis will start at quarterback for East Carolina, but Emory Williams also is expected to play against Alabama. Griffis, a Texas Tech transfer, beat out Williams (Miami transfer) for the starting job during preseason camp, though the Pirates apparently aren’t closing the competition after Week 1.
Griffis is a sixth-year senior who has appeared in 30 games during his career dating back to 2020. He has completed 61.2 percent of his passe for 2,314 yards and 17 TDs (with 8 interceptions).
Alabama enters 2026 with something to prove
Alabama opens Kalen DeBoer’s third season ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25, its lowest preseason ranking since 2008 and the first time in 18 years the Crimson Tide has started outside the top 10. Alabama is coming off an 11-win season and College Football Playoff appearance but enters 2026 with the program’s usual national championship expectations.
DeBoer isn’t overlooking the Pirates. He pointed this week to ECU’s recent bowl success, nine-win 2025 season and experienced roster while calling the Pirates a “good East Carolina team.”
What would a close game mean for ECU?
Even if the Pirates leave Tuscaloosa with a loss, a competitive performance against one of college football’s premier programs could provide momentum heading into the remainder of the schedule. An upset win obviously would ignite conference title and playoff fever in Greenville for sure.
📊 By the Numbers
- 9 – ECU victories in 2025.
- 2 – Consecutive bowl wins over ACC opponents.
- 100,077 – Capacity of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- 26 – Meetings against SEC opponents for ECU entering 2026.
- 1 – Previous meeting with Alabama.
- 23-22 – Final score of the 1998 meeting.
📚 Series History
- Alabama leads 1-0
- Last Meeting: Alabama 23, ECU 22 (1998)
Alabama won the only other meeting between the schools, nipping the Pirates 23-22 on Oct. 17, 1998 at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL.
After falling behind 21-0 in the opening half, the Steve Logan-coached Pirates fought back with 19 third-quarter points. But a blocked PAT attempt, returned by Alabama for 2 points, turned the Tide, literally and figuratively.
Forrest Foster returned an interception 43 yards for an ECU TD late in the third quarter, but another kick failed, leaving a 4-point deficit. The Pirates could only manage to get three points back on an Andrew Bayes 36-yard field goal, losing the game by a point.
⭐ Featured Game: East Carolina at Alabama was selected as one of NC Football News’ 25 Games That Could Define the 2026 Season, our statewide look at the most important matchups from the ACC to Division III.
🔗 More ECU & NC College Football Coverage
- East Carolina football schedule
- American Conference standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
