BIRMINGHAM, AL – We are on the cusp of seeing the first named hurricane of the 2026 season, and it comes at a busy time on the calendar, especially with Georgia scheduled to face Alabama in a college football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Right now, meteorologists around the south are waiting on information to come in from the National Hurricane Service on what the potential impact location will be when ‘Isaias’ comes ashore somewhere along the Alabama, Florida or Mississippi panhandle in the coming days.
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There are a number of big events scheduled for this weekend in Alabama, with the SEC showdown in Tuscaloosa at the top of that list.
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But to give you a sense of the resources being allotted around the state, there is also the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, while country music star Zach Bryan is set to play Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.
A flyover takes place before the start of the football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Oklahoma Sooners at Bryant Denny Stadium. (Butch Dill/Getty Images)
What type of decision the SEC, Alabama and Georgia will have to make
Now the question turns to what the Southeastern Conference, along with the University of Alabama, will do about the impending weather event. Officials from both schools involved, and the SEC, have been monitoring the situation over the past two days.
“Like we do every week at this time, we’re keeping an eye on forecasts and staying in communication with schools with games that could be impacted by weather,” the SEC noted in a statement to OutKick on Tuesday.
If this storm continues to strengthen, I would imagine these entities will be doing more than just monitoring. Every school, and conference, has contingency plans for events like this, especially in areas prone for hurricanes.
On Tuesday night, the University of Alabama released a statement regarding the weather and upcoming game against Georgia.
“Alabama atheltics is closely monitoring the weather forecast ahead of Saturday’s football game vs. Georgia,” the school noted. “At this time, there are no plans to alter the contest. We will continue to observe conditions throughout the week and remain in communication with the Southeastern Conference office, as needed.
“Fans are encouraged to rely on official Alabama athletics and SEC channels for the latest information regarding Saturday’s game.”
But right now, the unknown centers around the strength of this storm and its final on-shore landing, with the east side of every hurricane being the worst.
Would the game be moved to an alternate location? One place the SEC cannot rely on is Atlanta, with the Falcons hosting the Ravens, while its MLS team is playing Saturday night inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart tells the students section to calm down during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
There are other choices that could potentially be called upon if needed in short notice, like Atlanta or Nashville, but the University of Alabama would prefer to not lose out on millions of dollars in revenue that would come with a change of venue.
By Wednesday, we should have a better understanding of what direction the SEC is looking in terms of the weekend, as it gathers information on the storm.
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Also adding to this chaotic weekend is the University of Alabama preparing to host President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to attend the football game this weekend. This will be Trump’s second game of the season, after attending the Texas versus Tennessee matchup two weeks ago.
On Tuesday, the Secret Service was on Alabama’s campus, going through normal procedures in preparation for a presidential visit, according to sources.
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At the moment, officials from each school involved are gathering information on how to proceed, while relying on experts to determine the potential impacts the forecasted hurricane would have on the Tuscaloosa area.
President Donald Trump, Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., appear on a video screen during the Texas-Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 26, 2026. Trump, who has attended more college football games than any recent sitting president, watched the matchup between the No. 1 Longhorns and the No. 14 Volunteers. (Getty Images)
OutKick will have you covered this weekend from Alabama, as Kirby Smart is preparing to bring his Bulldogs to Bryant Denny Stadium for a highly-anticipated SEC showdown against the Crimson Tide.
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Continue following OutKick for updates on any changes or news regarding the upcoming game amid the ongoing situation with what is projected to be Hurricane Isaias.