Alabama’s basketball team has confirmed an exciting addition to its 2024-25 non-conference schedule with a series against Illinois. The Crimson Tide will commence the two-year series by facing Illinois this December in Birmingham. Subsequently, Alabama will reciprocate the visit by traveling to Chicago for the 2025-26 non-conference schedule, as per the report by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
It is worth noting that Alabama has already scheduled a game to be played in Birmingham for the current season. The 2024 C.M. Newton Classic in Legacy Arena, set for December 18, will see Arizona as the opposing team. This match is a return fixture from last season’s game in Phoenix.
Renowned for its challenging non-conference schedules, Nate Oats’ teams have once again organized a series of tough games for the upcoming seasons. Recently, it was revealed that Alabama will take part in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. This Thanksgiving week tournament not only provides an opportunity for NIL payouts for participants but also offers an additional NIL payout for the winner. The participating teams include Houston, Notre Dame, Rutgers, San Diego State, Oregon, and Texas A&M.
The upcoming schedule for Alabama also includes a highly anticipated home game against Creighton, a competitive team from the Big East, on December 14. Additionally, the Crimson Tide is scheduled to play an as-yet-unannounced opponent in the second annual ACC/SEC Challenge. Furthermore, discussions are ongoing regarding a road game against St. John’s, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
As the 2024-25 college basketball season is set to commence on November 4, anticipation for Alabama’s opening day opponent continues to grow. While the first game is yet to be announced, fans can expect more scheduling news to be released in the coming months. Historically, Alabama’s initial game usually pits them against a mid-major opponent.
The inclusion of the Illinois series, alongside the previously scheduled games, points towards an action-packed season for Alabama’s basketball team. As the players gear up for these challenging match-ups, fans eagerly await the opportunity to witness their favourite team in action. With a mix of local and out-of-state games, the upcoming seasons promise to offer an enthralling and competitive showcase of college basketball.
With such a promising line-up of games, basketball enthusiasts are sure to be on the edge of their seats as the Crimson Tide looks forward to some thrilling action in the coming years.