The Alabama Crimson Tide is entering a huge season in which it feels like the future of the program is hanging in the balance and fans are a bit split on the general opinion of head coach Kalen DeBoer.

While there have been ups and downs, DeBoer has had an impossible task over the last two years of satisfying a fanbase who had become used to perfection. For DeBoer headed into year three, things may not get all that much easier with a young team going up against a tough schedule.

Recently, Chris Low of On3 ranked the five most difficult schedules in the SEC this season, and the Crimson Tide snuck in right at the end of the list.

NEW: Toughest SEC College Football Schedules in 2026💪

(via @Clowfb) https://t.co/t1DSEeBq3f pic.twitter.com/HdLMD49KHk

— On3 (@On3) June 29, 2026

Low pointed out the fact that Alabama is one of a few teams in the conference who will have to play back-to-back road games within the league schedule, not to mention the absolutely brutal stretch that hits the Tide come October.

After a relatively manageable start to the year, DeBoer’s team will face Georgia at home on Oct. 10, Tennessee on the road on Oct. 17 and Texas A&M at home on Oct. 24 before a bye week and then a trip to Baton Rouge to see LSU.

Here is the full schedule:

• Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
• Sept. 12: @ Kentucky
• Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
• Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
• Oct. 3: @ Mississippi State
• Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
• Oct. 17: @ Tennessee
• Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
• Oct. 31: BYE
• Nov. 7: @ LSU
• Nov. 14: @ Vanderbilt
• Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
• Nov. 28: vs. Auburn

Once things get started in the SEC, they really just don’t let up, and needing 10 wins to go to the College Football Playoff is going to be a tough path for Alabama this year.

Either way, it’s going to be very revealing to what the Tide has on its hands in its head coach.