East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama: Game Central Rundown, Live Updates and Analysis

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Game day is finally here in Tuscaloosa. No. 13 Alabama takes on East Carolina to kick off the 2026 season and Year 3 under Kalen DeBoer.

Alabama has its lowest preseason ranking since 2008, and the Crimson Tide has a lot to prove this season after getting blown out by Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals to end the 2025 campaign.

Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell will lead the Tide offense on the field as the team's starting quarterback in his first career start. Expect to see a lot of new faces as Alabama has about 50 new players on the roster between transfers and freshmen.

Kickoff between the Crimson Tide and Pirates is scheduled for 11 a.m. on ABC.

Scoring updates from East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama

Will be updated throughout the game. Latest updates at the top.

FINAL SCORE: Alabama 48, East Carolina 10

Fourth Quarter

6:15- Talty connects on a 21-yard field goal to extend the Tide lead. Alabama 48, East Carolina 10

14:57- And the first play of the fourth quarter is an Alabama touchdown: two-yard rush from freshman running back Trae'shawn Brown. It caps a nine-play, 77-yard drive. Alabama 45, East Carolina 10

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Alabama 38, East Carolina 10

Third Quarter

Alabama is kept off the board in the third quarter, but will be knocking on the door of the end zone to open the fourth.

10:54- East Carolina settles for a 34-yard field goal from Noah Perez after recovering a fumbles in Alabama territory. Alabama 38, East Carolina 10

HALFTIME: Alabama 38, East Carolina 7

Alabama outgained ECU 307 to 99 in the first half.
Keelon Russell was 11-of-17 for 182 yards. He added 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Time of possession: Alabama- 21:46, East Carolina- 8:14
East Carolina has -9 rushing yards.

Second Quarter

0:14- Keelon Russell keeps from three yards out for his first rushing touchdown. Alabama now has four rushing touchdowns in the first half. Alabama 38, East Carolina 7

9:15- Alabama has its first non-offensive touchdown of the year. Yhonzae Pierre picks off a pass and returns it 27 yards for a touchdown. Alabama 31, East Carolina 7

Agent 0️⃣🤫@YhonzaeP

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/SdbIdJe7uu
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 5, 2026

10:02- Hill ends a seven-play, 86-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the day. Ryan Coleman-Williams had a 58-yard reception for Alabama on the drive. Alabama 24, East Carolina 7

13:41- ECU gets on the board after a huge 68-yard gain from Mitch Griffs to Tyler Johnson. The Pirates complete the drive with a one-yard pass from Griffs to Jeremiah Melvin. Alabama 17, East Carolina 7

14:48- Daniel Hill takes a direct snap from four yards out and runs it in to cap the six-play, 26-yard drive from the first quarter. Alabama 17, East Carolina 0

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Alabama 10, East Carolina 0

First Quarter

4:12- Freshman EJ Crowell rushes from three yards out for the first touchdown of his career and the first of the Crimson Tide's season. Talty's PAT is good. Alabama 10, East Carolina 0

9:30- Conor Talty nails a 41-yard field goal after Alabama's opening drive stalls. Nine-play, 46-yard drive. Alabama 3, East Carolina 0

The Latest Injury News From East Carolina at Alabama

Crowell, Dear and Rogers are dressed out for warmups.

EJ Crowell in full pads, looks ready to go for Alabama today pic.twitter.com/j8N1jJmUoa
— Joe Gaither (@JoeGaither6) September 5, 2026

The biggest injury news we're keeping an eye on is the availability of freshman running back EJ Crowell. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said earlier in the week that Crowell would play, but how much he plays is unknown after missing most of the spring and fall with an injury.

Transfer receiver Noah Rogers will not be available for this game due to an injury suffered during A-Day at the end of spring. Freshman safety Jireh Edwards also will not play after an arm injury during fall camp.

Sophomore running back AK Dear will also miss the first few games after an injury in fall camp.

Junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman will miss the entire season with an ACL injury.

East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama Game information

Who: East Carolina (0-0) at No. 13 Alabama (0-0)

When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m. CT

Where: Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV: ABC (Play-By-Play: Bob Wischusen, Analyst: Louis Riddick, Sideline: Stormy Buonantony)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts, Sideline: Damion Square, Host: Roger Hoover)

SiriusXM: 81

Series history: Alabama leads, 1-0

Last meeting: The only meeting between the two programs occurred on Oct. 17, 1998 in Birmingham, Alabama at Legion Field. The Crimson Tide held on for a 23-22 victory. Shaun Alexander led the Tide in rushing with 86 yards.

Weather: Temperatures are in the 90s in Tuscaloosa, with feels-like temperatures in the 100s. This is expected to be one of the hottest home games in Alabama history.

Officials: Jason Autrey's Southeastern Conference crew

Game captains: Zabien Brown, Bray Hubbard, Ryan Coleman-Williams (Alabama)
Mitch Griffs, Ashton Levells-Mitchell, Ethan Kramer, Jasiyah Robinson (East Carolina)

Coin toss: East Carolina wins the toss and defers to the second half

This Week's Biggest Crimson Tide Headlines...

Senior safety Bray Hubbard, junior cornerback Zabien Brown and junior wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams were selected as Alabama's permanent team captains

Teammates are confident in what they've seen from Keelon Russell ahead of his first start: What Alabama Teammates Have Seen from Keelon Russell Since Being Named Starting QB

Grubb announced junior William Sanders as Alabama's starter at left guard.

Depth Chart: East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama

Offense

Quarterback: Keelon Russell, Austin Mack, Jett Thomalla
Running Back: Daniel Hill, OR, Trae'shawn Brown, OR, Kevin Riley, OR, EJ Crowell
WR (Z): Rico Scott, Cederian Morgan
WR (X): Ryan Coleman-Williams, Derek Meadows
WR (H): Lotzeir Brooks, Tyler Henderson
TE (Y): Kaleb Edwards, OR,Josh Ford, OR, Danny Lewis Jr.
TE (H): Marshall Pritchett, Jay Lindsey, Mack Sutters
LT: Jackson Lloyd, Tyrell Miller
LG: William Sanders, OR, Mal Waldrep Jr., Kayden Strayhorn
C: Racin Delgatty, Casey Poe
RG: Michael Carroll, Ethan Fields
RT: Jayvin James, Nick Brooks

Defense

Bandit: Devan Thompkins, OR, Desmond Umeozulu, Fatutoa Henry
NT: Terrance Green, London Simmons, OR, Isaia Faga
DT: Kedrick Bingley-Jones, OR, Devan Thompkins, Edric Hill
Wolf: Yhonzae Pierre, Justin Hill, OR, Jah-Marien Latham
Stinger: Caleb Woodson, Xavier Griffin
Mike: Luke Metz, QB Reese, Abduall Sanders Jr.
CB: Zabien Brown, Zyan Gibson
CB: Dijon Lee Jr., Carmelo O'Neal
FS: Bray Hubbard, Zavier Mincey
SS: Keon Sabb, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., OR, Ivan Taylor
Husky: Red Morgan, Chuck McDonald III, OR, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.

Special teams

Kickoff/place kicker: Lorcan Quinn, OR, Conor Talty
Holder: Alex Asparuhov
Punter: Alex Asparuhov, Adam Watford, OR, Anderson Green
Snapper: Ethan Stangle, OR, Alex Rozier
Punt Return: Ryan Coleman-Williams, OR, Dijon Lee Jr., OR, Rico Scott
Kick Return: Lotzeir Brooks, OR, Trae'shawn Brown, OR, Dijon Lee Jr.

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