Alabama has officially canceled its home-and-home series with Oklahoma State (previously set for 2028-2029). But crucially, the Crimson Tide has doubled down on its commitment to play Ohio State in 2027 and 2028.
How the College Football World Reacted to Alabama Keeping the Ohio State Series
The reaction across social media and message boards was nearly unanimous.
The Buckeye Nut’s X handle wrote, “NEW: Alabama will keep its 2027-28 home-and-home series with Ohio State. Great news!”
NEW: Alabama will keep its 2027-28 home-and-home series with Ohio State. Great news! 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/YzU6cw73xr
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) May 7, 2026
Ari Wasserman commented, “They’ll both be better off for this. Well done to both sides.”
On3’s Blake Byler said, “Naturally Alabama was never going to keep multiple non-conference home-and-homes in the same year with the SEC moving to nine games. But the fact that they’re keeping the big matchup is good for the sport.”
Naturally Alabama was never going to keep multiple non-conference home-and-homes in the same year with the SEC moving to nine games.
But the fact that they’re keeping the big matchup is good for the sport. https://t.co/Tvjwmc45K9
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) May 7, 2026
Stephen Means of the “BuckeyeTalkPod” remarked, “Ohio State is about to get well acquainted with Big Noon Kickoff this year.”
In a separate post, Means also pointed out, “Bad for college football what this might also be signifying in terms of CFP expansion.”
Good for college football that the Ohio State and Alabama home-and-home will actually happen
Bad for college football what this might also be signifying in terms of CFP expansion https://t.co/6cAGyFekvp
— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) May 7, 2026
How does this series affect them both? In the new 12-team (and potentially expanding) College Football Playoff era, a loss to a titan like Ohio State won’t be the death sentence it used to be. Instead, it serves as a quality loss.
However, while a loss doesn’t end a season, two losses might. By playing each other, one team is guaranteed a blemish. In a world where a 10-2 SEC team might get left out for an 11-1 Big Ten team, that strength of schedule boost is a gamble that can backfire if the rest of the conference slate proves equally grueling.
Now Alabama’s away slate includes trips to Ohio State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. But the Crimson Tide will have the home advantage when they’ll play the likes of Tennessee, Mississippi State, Florida, Missouri, and Texas.
After losing Alabama, Oklahoma State moved swiftly and replaced them with Michigan State.
The official statement read, “The [Michigan State] series replaces a two-game set scheduled against Alabama. The Southeastern Conference’s move to a nine-game league schedule was the dominant factor in the schedule change between the Cowboys and the Crimson Tide. Following SEC shuffling, both OSU and Alabama needed home games during the same season.”
For now, college football wins.
