Report: Alabama adds Eastern Illinois, UT Martin to future schedules

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•06/15/22•

griffin_mcveigh

According to FB Schedules, the Alabama Crimson Tide has added two nonconference matchups to their future schedule, beginning in 2025.

Eastern Illinois will travel to Bryant Denny Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, for the first meeting between the two programs. Presumably, this will be the final nonconference regular-season game of the year for Alabama before facing off against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide will reportedly pay a $560,000 guarantee in order for the matchup to happen.

Three years later in 2028, UT Martin will travel to Tuscaloosa for an early-season game. It will cost Alabama $500,000 for the Sept. 18, 2028 matchup. Originally, the two schools were set to meet during the 2020 season but due to COVID-19, the SEC decided on a conference-only schedule. Now, they have agreed on a new contract and matchup date.

FB Schedules also state there is a “good faith” clause within both the Eastern Illinois and UT Martin contracts. The schools will “agree to discuss in good faith future dates for the game to be played” when conference realignment within the SEC takes place.

Texas and Oklahoma are set to join during the 2025 season, at the latest, and the SEC is still debating their future modeling schedule. The two final candidates are 3-6, with three permanent and six rotating opponents. If the conference goes in that direction, it would make nine games. If eight games are still the preferred method, 1-7 with one permanent and seven rotating will be the choice.

With the agreement to play Eastern Illinois, Alabama has four nonconference matchups on their 2025 schedule. Two Power Five programs in Florida State and Wisconsin, and then a Group of Five opponent in Louisiana-Monroe.

Looking to 2028, UT Martin marks the third scheduled opponent. Ohio State will travel to Tuscaloosa early in the year, while the Crimson Tide will make a trip to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State a couple of weeks later. UT Martin acts as the bridge between the two.