OTish - Alabama traveling to B1G country to play...Minnesota (?!?)...in 2032
Finally! What we've all been begging for! A national power/SEC team had the courage to come north and play a true OOC road game, I guess. Although this feels like the equivalent of OSU or Michigan scheduling South Carolina or Mississippi State.
The last time Alabama came north they visited (and beat) Penn State in 2011.
Minnesota returns the favor by traveling to Tuscaloosa in 2033.
Of course, who knows if this series will ever actually happen. In 10 years the landscape of college football could be completely different and this could just end with Alabama writing a check to Minnesota in order to put Tulane on the schedule instead. Or maybe this will be an in-conference matchup by that time.
Interesting fact: Minnesota is undefeated all-time against 'Bama.
October 12th, 2022 at 5:27 PM ^
I took a quick look ahead at future Bama opponents. It does appear they haven't forgotten how to schedule OOC powerhouses, which also include the following. Certain "late November" games are not on their future schedule - but, the penultimate regular season game continues to be teams that most, if not all, B1G schools wouldn't have the courage to schedule.
Recent late November Bama opponents have included: New Mexico State, Western Carolina (3 times), The Citadel, Mercer, Chattanooga (3 times), Charleston Southern, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. With the frequency that Bama has played Chattanooga and Western Carolina, one might think those two schools are trying to join the SEC.
2022 - University of Louisiana - Monroe, and - still to be played - Austin Peay
2023 - Middle Tennessee and Chattanooga
2024 - Western Kentucky and Mercer
2025 - Eastern Illinois and University of Louisiana - Monroe (two teams, but not at the same time).
2028 - UT Martin
October 12th, 2022 at 10:44 PM ^
I get everyone likes to make fun of SEC non-conference schedules but Alabama's probably the last team we should be making fun of:. Yeah, they have some creampuffs but everyone schedules cream puffs. I'm assuming you also saw these teams on Alabama's future schedules:
2023 - Texas
2024 - @ Wisconsin
2025: @ Florida St, Wisconsin
2026: @ West Virginia, Florida St
2027: West Virginia, @ Ohio St
2028: Ohio St, @ Oklahoma St
October 13th, 2022 at 9:07 AM ^
Funky, I agree, and understand the other teams Bama has scheduled in their OOC. There's no question that, IMO, it's a good change in the future slate.
The games you noted are commendable - and, should create great out of season contests that fans will be interested in seeing. So, kudos to Bama for the games you noted.
This being said, the FCS teams on their schedule - well, they don't exactly "match up" - and, aren't competitive at all.
One question going through my mind is - with the expanded playoff, will the ACC or SEC move from and eight game to a nine game conference schedule? Will the "group" responsible for CFP team selection recommend (I doubt they'll require) that conferences play a nine game schedule, but - it would b nice if they did.
October 12th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
I wonder if the "undefeated" might be a small part of the scheduling reason--I really think a big part of the reason for bringing back App St and Army was to be able to say that no one has a winning record against us...seemed like a Harbaugh thing to do.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
Michigan's got a few opponents to secure if that's the goal...
Alabama (2-3), Arizona State (0-1), Chicago A.A.* (0-1), Chicago Athletic Club (0-1), Cleveland A.A.* (0-1), Cornell (6-12!), Florida State (1-2), Georgia (0-1), Kansas State (0-1), Mississippi State (0-1), North Carolina (1-2), Oklahoma (0-1), South Carolina (1-3), Southern Cal (4-6), Tennessee (0-1), Texas (0-1), Toledo (0-1), Utah (1-3), and Wesleyan (0-1).
A.A. is apparently Athletic Association, not to be confused with Athletic Club.
So, if Michigan announces a 6-year contract with Cornell, you'll know why. :)
October 12th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
Nice list - thanks for sharing! Even if seeing Toledo gives me PTSD....
October 12th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
That chart needs some updating. Our actual record against USC is 4-6, making USC and Cornell the only teams to have winning records against Michigan with at least 10 games played.
That Toledo loss still irks me.
October 12th, 2022 at 8:39 PM ^
Sorry about that; I have no idea where 2-3 came from. 4-6 is indeed correct.
October 12th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
App State part 2 was in 2014 pre-Harbaugh. It was a Brandon thing to do.
October 12th, 2022 at 9:18 AM ^
As far as they will have rowed by then they must have gotten somewhere! I like the in-conference comment. Just the right dash of snark.
October 12th, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^
this game will never happen.
October 12th, 2022 at 9:36 AM ^
A few quick thoughts, if I may.
First, SI had an article about this and listed Bama's key OOC games over the next decade or so. Candidly, Bama has scheduled some good games - and, they appear to be "home and home".
Here's a link to the SI article: https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/alabama-and-minnesota-schedule-home-and-home-football-series
The opponents on Bama's OOC over the next decade, or so, include: Texas, USF, Wisconsin, Florida State, the Bucks, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Arizona, and (now) Minnesota.
The one thought going through my mind is - how many of these will really turn out to be "home and home" series. In years past, Bama has done some creative things - specifically, signing two "one game" contracts, instead of a single "two game" contract. Then, Bama approached the scheduled team and said - let's change this "home and home" to a "neutral and neutral" to benefit the fans. And, of course, the locations Bama suggested for the "neutral" sites were Atlanta, New Orleans, and Houston. IIRC, this occurred when the Spartans were scheduled in a series against Bama.
The set of Power 5 teams on Bama's schedule is very nice - with a few "real" marquee games on it. At this time, the "latest" of any of the above mentioned games is scheduled, is September 23rd, and that is the game at Oklahoma State.
As was once said - "So let it be written. So let it be done."
October 12th, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
In 2032, I will be 53 and living 7 miles from the stadium. I may just go so I can see the bloodbath.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
youngin'
October 12th, 2022 at 9:42 AM ^
I'm dubious this will actually happen but good to see them scheduling other games. Alabama might be totally different in a decade after Saban - younger people might not understand this but from basically in the mid-90s to the mod-2000s Alabama was an average football program and had 4 losing seasons in a span of about 10 years. It's not hard to see a world where they take a pretty big step back from what Saban has done.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
Alabama was on probation for much of that time. From 2002-2006 they had severely reduced scholarships. Escaped the dreaded death penalty. They also had penalties in the 90's following the Gene Stallings era that restricted them.
They caught a break with Saban's maniacle coaching skills after a succession of really meh to bad hires. They also got quite good at cheating their asses off and covering it up.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^
BiL,
My view is - nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more important than college football in certain states in this country.
Just look at the number of professional teams in states like Alabama and Mississippi, or South Carolina. Oh, there aren't any. EVERYTHING is about college football.
And, what will they do to win? Hmmm... anything they can.
The oft repeated phrase - "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'." Defines football in that part of the country.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^
You're not necessarily wring, but it does sound a bit odd to make this point on the message board of a team with a 107,000-seat stadium.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
Bronx, I agree with your comment.
If I may add - Mike Shula did a great job to "right the probation ship" that Bama was under - and, immediately preceded Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa. I certainly credit Saban for what he has done - it's been remarkable. Had Shula won "one more" against Auburn than he did - Bama might not have looked for a new head coach.
The biggest challenge Bama may face is - maintaining the recruiting pipeline that Saban established. Bama has incredible talent - and, until that overall talent decides (for whatever reason, including NIL or a won/loss record) to play elsewhere - I don't think there will be a losing season record in Tuscaloosa. Yes, if / when the talent level declines, Bama may lose more games, but - the outside of the top three teams - the SEC's middle and lower teams are not world beaters.
Since 2011, in which year(s) has Bama signed a class ranked 3rd or lower? It's happened once - in 2018, when they signed the 5th ranked class. Otherwise, their individual / annual classes signed have been ranked 1st or 2nd.
Since 2015, in which year(s) was Bama's overall "team talent" ranked 3rd or lower? This may be a trick question - it hasn't happened. Bama's overall team talent has been ranked 1st or 2nd every year since 2015.
* = the above rankings were obtained from 247.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:18 AM ^
If Alabama were truly gutsy they’d insist on this game being scheduled in November just prior to their usual last game vs Auburn. And insist on it being played at night. At least then it’d be somewhat cold with a decent chance of snow. Minnesota at the beginning of September is actually quite nice, weather wise.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Better yet, Bama should support having playoff games on campus, so they could potentially play a postseason game on the road in December.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
Saban will be long gone. Fleck will either be a Minnesota legend by then or have moved on himself.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:25 AM ^
And with Saban gone, maybe Bama will go back to their pre-Saban self. Putting up 6-6 seasons and qualifying for the Independence Bowl. Heck, Minnesota could win!
Also, I think the rest of college football needs to see a pre-Saban Alabama for a few decades to get the world back on its axis.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
They'll probably hire Dabo to replace him, which would make them absolutely insufferable. Saban's worst attribute is that he's a grumpy dude who finds excuses to get pissed off at softball questions from the media. Dabo's goofiness, on the other hand, is cringe-worthy. It would be especially annoying if he were to succeed Saban at 'Bama.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
It'll never happen, looks good on paper one team will cancel.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
I hope Saban is still coaching at 80, because at that point I'm sure he'll say whatever the hell he feels like saying. It will be entertaining.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
I have three different theories about Saban:
1) He's a robot
2) He's from the future
3) He's a robot from the future
October 12th, 2022 at 11:17 AM ^
They scheduled these games to replace a home-and-home with Oklahoma that was canceled due to realignment.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
Pretty sure Bama has a home and home with Wisconsin coming up in 2024 and 2025
October 12th, 2022 at 5:00 PM ^
And one with OSU in 2027-28.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:08 PM ^
2032...a year that will definitely happen as planned.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
This stuff always makes me think of that Twitter account that spent seven years(!) counting down towards a Penn State/LSU non-conference game......only to have that game cancelled due to Covid.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
Pj is planning to coach this game, as the visiting coach
October 12th, 2022 at 4:20 PM ^
Equivalent of scheduling SC or Miss St? Really? You picked two teams where we have a combined 1-5 record?
October 12th, 2022 at 5:07 PM ^
I'm glad to see Minnesota schedule a "Big Boy" game with arguably the best team in the SEC. Wish Michigan would do the same. Disappointed when the UCLA home and home was cancelled. Hawaii, Colorado State, and Connecticut just don't cut it.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
We've literally opened two seasons with Alabama and Florida in Dallas.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
and play home and homes with Texas and Oklahoma in the near future.
October 12th, 2022 at 7:43 PM ^
They have a home and home with Wisconsin in 24, 25
October 12th, 2022 at 8:16 PM ^
I'd bet 1000 dollars that if it ever actually takes place it will be in the Vikings stadium.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:30 PM ^
Roll Green Wave Roll!
October 13th, 2022 at 12:00 AM ^
Dude Bama has crushed UM, PSU, and Wiscy OOC in the last 10 years. They also routinely destroy B1G teams in the playoffs.