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The UA football program announced on Thursday that it’ll play a home-and-home football series against the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide in 2032 and '33. The 17-time national champions will host ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 4, 2032. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will host the Crimson Tide in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Sept. 3, 2033.

The teams have never before played each other.

Mark your calendars ✅📰 |

— ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Football (@ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥FBall)

“Facing a marquee opponent like the Crimson Tide is not only important to our football program, but bringing a high-profile opponent to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium will make a tremendous impact on our community," UA athletic director Dave Heeke said. "We look forward to welcoming the Alabama football program to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, as well as an exciting trip to Tuscaloosa.â€�

Alabama coach Nick Saban praised ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ as a quality opponent.

"ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a tremendous football program and the opportunity to play this type of competition only makes our program stronger while providing a lot of excitement for both fan bases," he said.Ìý

The two programs have a mutual connection in Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, who served as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s AD from 2010-17. Byrne was instrumental in facility upgrades and oversaw the $378 million Lowell-Stevens Football Facility project in the north end zone at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium. Byrne took over as Alabama's AD in January 2017.

Byrne can be credited for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s next series against an SEC team, too. The Wildcats will play a home-and-home series with Mississippi Stat ein 2022 and 2023. Byrne, who was the AD at Mississippi State before coming to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, scheduled the series in 2014.

Byrne said the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-Alabama series will provide "our teams and our fan bases exciting new opportunities during the regular season."

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s next decade-plus include nonconference games against Texas Tech, San Diego State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, BYU, Kansas State, Mississippi State and Alabama, among others.

The Wildcats have played just seven games against SEC teams, going 1-6. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last hosted an SEC team in 2003, when LSU beat the Wildcats 59-13 at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium.

Here's a look at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s future nonconference opponents:

Home games in ALL CAPS

2020: HAWAII (Aug. 29), PORTLAND STATE (Sept. 5), at Texas Tech (Sept. 19)

2021: BYU* (Sept. 2), SAN DIEGO STATE (Sept. 11), NAU (Sept. 18)

*Neutral-site game in Las Vegas

2022:Ìýat San Diego State (Sept. 3), MISSISSIPPI STATE (Sept. 10), NORTH DAKOTA STATE (Sept. 17)

2023: NAU (Sept. 2), at Mississippi State (Sept. 9), UTEP (Sept. 16)

2024: NAU (Aug. 31), at Kansas State (Sept. 14)

2025:Ìýat Hawaii (Aug. 30), KANSAS STATE (Sept. 14)

2026: NAU (Sept. 5), @ BYU (Sept. 12)

2027:Ìýat Colorado State (Sept. 4), BYU (Sept. 11), NAU (Sept. 18)

2028: COLORADO STATE (Sept. 2), at Nebraska (Sept. 16)

2029: VIRGINIA TECH (Sept. 8)

2030:Ìýat Virginia Tech (Aug. 30)

2031: NEBRASKA (Sept. 13)

2032:Ìýat Alabama (Sept. 4)

2033: ALABAMA (Sept. 3)

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