Live Updates From Alabama vs. East Carolina

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama's 2026 season opener is here! The Crimson Tide hosts the East Carolina Pirates in the 2026 home opener, with the Pirates traveling from Greenville, North Carolina, for the second-ever matchup. Alabama won the previous meeting in 1998, 23-22.

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Check out our live updates from Bryant-Denny Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosts the East Carolina Pirates!

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Alabama Drive 5:

ECU Drive 5: 5 plays, 30 yards, 2:50. After a big pass over the top of Carmelo O'Neal got ECU near midfield, the Pirates' drive stalled.

ECU Drive 4: Alabama linebacker Yhonzae Pierre picked off ECU quarterback Mitch Griffis for a 27-yard pick-six!

Alabama - 31
ECU - 7
9:15 | 2Q

Alabama Drive 4: 7 plays, 86 yards, 3:33. Alabama's fourth drive of the game featured a highlight-reel catch from Ryan Coleman-Williams over the middle of the field, racing for 58 yards to set the Tide's offense up in the redzone. EJ Crowell caught a swing pass from Keelon Russell for a 13-yard gain, and the drive ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hill, his second of the day!

Alabama - 24
ECU - 7
10:02 | 2Q

ECU Drive 3: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:07. East Carolina responds with an explosive drive, going 75 yards in 3 plays, thanks to a 68-yard completion from Mitch Griffis to Tyler Johnson. The drive was capped with a 1-yard touchdown from Griffis to Jeremiah Melvin.

Alabama - 17
ECU - 7
13:41 | 2Q

Alabama Drive 3: 6 plays, 26 yards, 2:24. Daniel Hill capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat! Alabama: 17, ECU: 0.

2ND QUARTER

ECU Drive 2: The Pirates went three-and-out again, with a botched snap on second down setting up 3rd and 29. The Pirates punted to Ryan Coleman-Williams, who returned it 23 yards into ECU territory.

Alabama Drive 2: 8 plays, 86 yards, 4:02, TD. EJ Crowell caps the drive with Alabama's first touchdown of the 2026 season on a 3-yard run. Derek Meadows made a spectacular 30-yard reception to set Alabama up in the redzone. Alabama - 10, ECU - 0.

ECU's First Drive: The Pirates go three-and-out on their opening drive of the season, gaining 9 yards on 3 plays. Cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. blew up a screen, and Ashton Gray carried the ball twice.

Alabama's First Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:24 off the clock. Conor Talty hit a 41-yard field goal to give Alabama its first points of the 2026 season. Keelon Russell completed 2 passes for 12 yards; Daniel Hill rushed 3 times for 21 yards; Russell rushed 3 times for 24 yards.

Kickoff was at 11:07 a.m. CT.

1ST QUARTER

East Carolina wins the coin toss and elects to defer to the second half. Alabama's offense will start the day.

ECU's top wide receiver, Brock Spalding, is not on the field for pregame warmups against Alabama. Spalding caught 42 passes for 554 yards and 3 touchdowns last season for the Pirates.

Alabama's trio of injured offensive players, RB EJ Crowell, RB AK Dear, and WR Noah Rogers, are all dressed out and warming up for the Crimson Tide ahead of Saturday's 11:00 kickoff against East Carolina. Rogers suffered a lower-body injury during the A-Day scrimmage, Dear suffered an ankle injury during Alabama's first scrimmage of fall camp, and Crowell has battled a nagging ankle injury. Freshman safety Jireh Edwards is also dressed for pregame warmups.

*Jason Autrey's Crew (SEC affiliation) will referee Alabama and East Carolina on Saturday morning.*

Alabama walked the Walk of Champions for the first time in the 2026 season at 8:47 a.m., arriving for the season opener against East Carolina.

Pregame

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.