It's still hot outside, the kids are still out of school, and fall camp has yet to open. However now that we are in single-digit weeks until the college football season begins, it's about that time of year that the national press starts sucking up to Deion Sanders. Oh yeah. And time we start previewing Alabama Crimson Tide football. We begin with opponent previews.
Due to the buffoonery of the College Football Playoff Committee and the expansion to nine SEC game dockets, Alabama made a decision to cancel an intriguing series with West Virginia in favor of a higher calorie cupcake ECU. The Pirates had a fine season in 2025. However, a closer look shows problems in Greenville.
Coach: Blake Harrell (14–5, 10-3 AAC after a season and a half)
2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 in AAC, 4th in the conference, Military Bowl win over Pitt)
Looking back: Harrell became interim head coach after Mike Houston's firing following week 7 of the 2024 season and finished with a 5-1 record including a bowl win over big brother NC State. Last fall, he led the Pirates to a strong 9-4 season in the competitive AAC and added a second bowl win to his resume.