Alabama football’s regular-season home schedule is coming to an end.
The No. 10 Crimson Tide will host FCS opponent Eastern Illinois in Alabama’s final regular-season game at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, Nov. 22. Alabama has never faced Eastern Illinois in school history.
Alabama will finish its regular season against Auburn Saturday, Nov. 29.
Alabama vs Eastern Illinois live updates
Follow along for updates from Alabama-Eastern Illinois at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
With Parker Brailsford out, Geno VanDeMark is taking reps with the first-team offensive line at center. Jaeden Roberts is taking first-team snaps at right guard.
Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman will call the Alabama-Eastern Illinois game for SEC Network+ with Tory Petry reporting from the sideline.
Alabama handedly beat Mercer 52-7 in 2024. The Crimson Tide played each of its four scholarship quarterbacks against the Bears with starter Jalen Milroe exiting the game after a touchdown drive to start the third quarter. Thirteen different players split 23 receptions for the Crimson Tide, while 18 players recorded at least one tackle.
Alabama football has played an FCS opponent each season since 2009, and the Crimson Tide has won each game. The closest an FCS opponent has come to beating Alabama in that stretch was Georgia Southern in 2011, which lost 45-21.
Alabama has not lost to an FCS opponent in school history.
Here’s a look at Alabama’s last 10 games against FCS opponents.
- Nov. 16, 2024: Alabama 52, Mercer 7
- Nov. 18, 2023: Alabama 66, Chattanooga 10
- Nov. 19, 2022: Alabama 34, Austin Peay 0
- Sept. 11, 2021: Alabama 48, Mercer 14
- Nov. 23, 2019: Alabama 66, Western Carolina 3
- Nov. 17, 2018: Alabama 50, The Citadel 17
- Nov. 18, 2017: Alabama 56, Mercer 0
- Nov. 19, 2016: Alabama 31, Chattanooga 3
- Nov. 21, 2015: Alabama 56, Charleston Southern 6
- Nov. 22, 2014: Alabama 48, Western Carolina 14
Kalen DeBoer has never seen Eastern Illinois as a head coach. But he’s had to game plan for the Panthers as an offensive coordinator four times.
DeBoer faced Eastern Illinois three times as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Southern Illinois. He finished 1-2 against the Panthers. DeBoer also helped Indiana beat Eastern Illinois 52-0 in 2019.
Alabama has never faced Eastern Illinois. Neither Kalen DeBoer nor EIU coach Chris Wilkerson have ever faced off against one another as head coaches.
Alabama center Parker Brailsford is back in a walking boot on field before the Crimson Tide takes on Eastern Illinois. He’s in sweats and a hoodie.
Joseph Ionata is listed as Alabama’s backup center behind Parker Brailsford. Geno VanDeMark also has center experience, and is listed as an “or” starter at right guard with Jaeden Roberts.
Alabama will be out a handful of starters against Eastern Illinois. According to On3, Parker Brailsford, Germie Bernard and Josh Cuevas will miss Saturday’s game.
Brailsford was seen in a walking boot ahead of Alabama vs Eastern Illinois. He participated in Walk of Champions without a boot, but was seen walking with a significant limp.
As a head coach, Kalen DeBoer has a record of 121-18. And after 17 losses, DeBoer-led teams have posted a 14-3 record.
Alabama had back-to-back losses against Michigan in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, and to Florida State to open the 2025 season. Washington also had back-to-back losses to UCLA and Arizona State in 2022, and Fresno State had back-to-back losses to Nevada and New Mexico in 2020.
- Aug. 30: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
- Sept. 6: Alabama 73, Louisiana Monroe 0
- Sept. 13: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14
- Sept. 27: Alabama 24, Georgia 21
- Oct. 4: Alabama 30, Vanderbilt 14
- Oct. 11: Alabama 27, Missouri 24
- Oct. 18: Alabama 37, Tennessee 20
- Oct. 25: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22
- Nov. 8: Alabama 20, LSU 9
- Nov. 15: Oklahoma 23, Alabama 21
- Alabama vs. Eastern Illinois; Nov. 22, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 1 p.m., ESPN+/SEC Network+
- Alabama at Auburn; Nov. 29, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
Alabama vs Eastern Illinois kickoff time
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
- Time: 1 p.m. CT
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa
Alabama vs Eastern Illinois TV channel
- TV: None
- Streaming: SEC Network+
- How to watch online: WatchESPN or ESPN app
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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