West Virginia and Alabama have agreed to cancel their two-game football series that had been set for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Alabama was slated to visit Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, and West Virginia was to travel to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 4, 2027.
The decision lets West Virginia reshape its nonconference schedule in line with a scheduling philosophy that has become common in today’s college football. The change will add another home game for WVU in 2027 and help bring stability to future slates. For several years, West Virginia has been one of the few major programs to routinely schedule more than one nonconference Power Five opponent in a single season. The new approach for a Power 4 program is to balance a Power opponent, a Group of Five foe and an FCS foe each year. Cancelling the Alabama series clears the path for WVU to adopt that structure in 2026 while ensuring a seventh home game in 2027 for fans and to boost the state’s economy through tourism.
“This scheduling philosophy has proven successful and aligns our football program with opportunities for postseason advancement,” the West Virginia Vice President and Director of Athletics said. “I’m also aware of the importance of a seventh home game in 2027 for our fans and the significant economic impact it brings to our state, city and tourism sector.”
Replacing Alabama on WVU’s future schedule are Coastal Carolina on Sept. 5, 2026, and Southern Miss on Sept. 4, 2027, with both games set to be played at Milan Puskar Stadium. West Virginia last faced Coastal Carolina in 2010, a 1-0 WVU edge, while the matchup with Southern Miss will mark the programs’ first-ever meeting.
In this plan, WVU fans can look forward to a more balanced nonconference slate that prioritizes a full home slate in 2027 and preserves opportunities for competitive nonconference play across the coming years. The shift aligns with broader CFP-era scheduling trends and aims to maximize both on-field opportunity and economic benefits for the university and the state.
Summary: West Virginia acquires a more balanced, home-heavy 2027 schedule by replacing the Alabama series with Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss, while maintaining a meaningful nonconference structure that supports postseason prospects and local economic impact.
Context and outlook: The move reflects a growing emphasis on sustainable, fan-friendly schedules that optimize home-game revenue and regional interest, all while keeping teams competitive for national consideration. The outlook suggests WVU is prioritizing stability and local impact alongside national competitiveness.