Alabama, West Virginia cancel home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027, citing SEC's move to nine-game schedule

Alabama has announced the addition of a non-conference game against East Carolina for the 2026 season, replacing a previously scheduled series with West Virginia. This change follows the SEC's move to a nine-game conference schedule, prompting Alabama and West Virginia to mutually cancel their home-and-home series set for 2026 and 2027. Alabama cited the need for flexibility with the new conference schedule as the reason for the adjustment. Meanwhile, West Virginia will fill its 2026 schedule with a game against Coastal Carolina and aims to add a seventh home game in 2027. Both universities emphasized the strategic importance of these scheduling changes in terms of postseason opportunities and economic impact.