ECU-Alabama Game Time Set For 12 Noon (ET) On ABC
May 12, 2026 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. –  The kickoff time for East Carolina's 2026 season opener at Alabama, scheduled for Sept. 5 at Saban Field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, has been set for 12 noon (ET) and will be televised on ABC according to an announcement by ESPN and its parent company Disney on Tuesday.
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Additionally, the 2026 American Championship Game slated for Saturday, Dec. 5, will kickoff at 8 p.m. (ET) at the highest seeded campus site on ABC.
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The meeting will mark ECU's second visit to Alabama and the Pirates' 26th contest against a current member of the Southeastern Conference with the last versus South Carolina in 2021. This is the first of four straight non-conference contests to open the season as the Pirates are scheduled to host Appalachian State (Sept. 12) and N.C. Central (Sept. 26) inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and will travel to Old Dominion (Sept. 19).
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Season ticket orders are currently on sale, with packages starting at just $75 for the six-game home slate at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall. To purchase new season tickets, visit ECUPirates.com or contact the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
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The remainder of East Carolina's kickoff times will be announced following the finalization of television broadcast schedules.
2026 ECU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 – at Alabama (12 noon on ABC)
Sept. 12 – APPALACHIAN STATE
Sept. 19 – at Old Dominion
Sept. 26 – N.C. CENTRAL
Oct. 3 – OPEN
Oct. 10 – RICE*
Oct. 15 – at UAB* (Thursday)
Oct. 22 – at Memphis* (Thursday)
Oct. 31 – TEMPLE*
Nov. 6 – SOUTH FLORIDA* (Friday)
Nov. 14 – at Charlotte*
Nov. 21 – at Army*
Nov. 27/28 – FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Dec. 5 – American Championship Game^ (8 p.m. on ABC / highest-seed campus site)
All times are Eastern; Home games in ALL CAPS; *American Conference game; Dates are subject to change pending finalization of television scheduling.
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Additionally, the 2026 American Championship Game slated for Saturday, Dec. 5, will kickoff at 8 p.m. (ET) at the highest seeded campus site on ABC.
Â
The meeting will mark ECU's second visit to Alabama and the Pirates' 26th contest against a current member of the Southeastern Conference with the last versus South Carolina in 2021. This is the first of four straight non-conference contests to open the season as the Pirates are scheduled to host Appalachian State (Sept. 12) and N.C. Central (Sept. 26) inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and will travel to Old Dominion (Sept. 19).
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Season ticket orders are currently on sale, with packages starting at just $75 for the six-game home slate at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall. To purchase new season tickets, visit ECUPirates.com or contact the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
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The remainder of East Carolina's kickoff times will be announced following the finalization of television broadcast schedules.
2026 ECU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 – at Alabama (12 noon on ABC)
Sept. 12 – APPALACHIAN STATE
Sept. 19 – at Old Dominion
Sept. 26 – N.C. CENTRAL
Oct. 3 – OPEN
Oct. 10 – RICE*
Oct. 15 – at UAB* (Thursday)
Oct. 22 – at Memphis* (Thursday)
Oct. 31 – TEMPLE*
Nov. 6 – SOUTH FLORIDA* (Friday)
Nov. 14 – at Charlotte*
Nov. 21 – at Army*
Nov. 27/28 – FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Dec. 5 – American Championship Game^ (8 p.m. on ABC / highest-seed campus site)
All times are Eastern; Home games in ALL CAPS; *American Conference game; Dates are subject to change pending finalization of television scheduling.
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