Miami-Alabama is one of the best matchups on loaded SEC/ACC slate

ESPN announced the complete 2026 men's SEC/ACC Challenge schedule, and Miami will host Alabama at Watsco Center. The matchup will give the Hurricanes a chance to measure themselves against one of the top programs in college basketball.

Miami to face Alabama in SEC/ACC Challenge

Miami HC Jai Lucas was credited as the architect for one of the nation's best defenses during his final season as a Duke assistant, and Miami had a top-35 defense last season. The Hurricanes added Acaden Lewis from Villanova and Somtochukwu Cyril from Georgia, while bringing back Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen and adding top-15 freshman Caleb Gaskins.

That group has the right pieces for a matchup with Alabama. But Nate Oats' program has been one of the SEC's most consistent winners, and the Crimson Tide are built around pace, spacing and their ability to put pressure on defenses.

Miami's 2025-26 SEC matchups

• Miami went 2-1 against SEC opponents during the 2025-26 season, losing 82-68 to No. 10 Florida, before beating Ole Miss 75-66 on the road in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Hurricanes beat Missouri 80-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Miami vs Alabama basketball series history

Alabama leads the all-time series 3-1, and the programs last met in 2021, when the Crimson Tide beat Miami 96-64 at the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando. Alabama has not played in Coral Gables since 2015, when Miami won 73-66 in the NIT.

Full 2026 men's SEC/ACC Challenge schedule

Tuesday, Dec. 1

• Auburn at Clemson
• Duke at Florida
• Boston College at Georgia
• Texas at Louisville
• Wake Forest at LSU
• Pittsburgh at Missouri
• South Carolina at NC State
• Arkansas at North Carolina
• Syracuse at Oklahoma
• Florida State at Tennessee
• Ole Miss at Virginia Tech

Wednesday, Dec. 2

• Alabama at Miami
• Georgia Tech at Mississippi State
• Vanderbilt at Notre Dame
• Stanford at Texas A&M
• Kentucky at Virginia

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