Thirteen grueling games of non-conference play conditioned Alabama basketball for another deep run in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats hasn’t let off the gas in crafting Alabama‘s 2025-26 non-con slate and has spent the offseason sharing that he plans on his team having the “best schedule in the country again.” Now that Labaron Philon is back in the driver’s seat for the Crimson Tide’s back court, it seems winnable.
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As of now, Alabama’s schedule next season starts with a visit to Madison Square Garden to face St. John’s on Nov. 8. The two could even meet again depending on how things shake out at the Players Era Festival later in the month. Alabama walked away from Las Vegas as the runner-up to Oregon, which will be in attendance this year alongside Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. Joes, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.
Including the Players Era Festival, Alabama has six confirmed dates on the schedule, plus certain appearances in the SEC/ACC Challenge, and against North Dakota and Yale. There’s also been circulation of a potential matchup with South Florida, coached by former Crimson Tide assistant Bryan Hodgson.
Alabama’s latest addition to the schedule, as reported by Rocco Miller, will come against another member of Oats’ coaching tree, Austin Claunch, who led University of Texas-San Antonio to a 12-19 record in his first season at the helm last year.
Dec 14, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama head coach Nate Oats protests a call on a ball out of bounds at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Creighton 83-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
A look at Alabama basketball’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule
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Nov. 8: at St. John’s in Madison Square Garden
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Nov. 19: vs. Illinois at United Center (Chicago)
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Nov. 26-30: Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nev.
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SEC/ACC Challenge − no dates announced
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vs. North Dakota − date has yet to be confirmed
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vs. Yale − reported by Jon Rothstein, date has yet to be confirmed
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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: A look at Alabama basketball’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule as of June
