By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
West Virginia University and the University of Alabama have mutually agreed to cancel their highly anticipated home-and-home football series, originally slated to begin in 2026.
West Virginia has replaced the Crimson Tide matchups with games against Coastal Carolina in 2026 and Southern Miss in 2027.
The canceled series was set to feature a game in Morgantown in 2026, followed by a return matchup in Tuscaloosa in 2027. However, the recent announcement by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to transition from an eight-game to a nine-game league schedule starting in 2026 likely played a pivotal role in Alabama’s decision to back out.
For West Virginia, the cancellation opens the door to a more manageable non-conference slate. Replacing Alabama—a perennial national contender—with Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss, both from the Sun Belt and Conference USA respectively, suggests a deliberate strategy to secure winnable games, while also giving the Mountaineers a seventh home game in 2027.
“This scheduling philosophy has proven to be successful across college football. It aligns our football program with its competition in terms of potential postseason opportunities and advancement,” WVU Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said in a statement announcing the cancellation. “I am also aware of the importance of a seventh home game in 2027 for our fans and the huge economic impact it brings to our state, city and tourism division,” Baker added. “Visitors coming to West Virginia are not only critical for state tourism, but also to our local economy.”
