The last time the 蜜柚直播 Wildcats hosted an SEC opponent at 蜜柚直播 Stadium was nearly 17 years ago. The UA now has two SEC teams scheduled within the next 13 years.
The UA football program announced on Thursday that it鈥檒l play a home-and-home football series against the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide in 2032 and '33. The 17-time national champions will host 蜜柚直播 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 4, 2032. 蜜柚直播 will host the Crimson Tide in 蜜柚直播 on Sept. 3, 2033.
The teams have never before played each other.
Mark your calendars 鉁咅煋� |
— 蜜柚直播 Football (@蜜柚直播FBall)
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鈥淔acing a marquee opponent like the Crimson Tide is not only important to our football program, but bringing a high-profile opponent to 蜜柚直播 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 蜜柚直播, as well as an exciting trip to Tuscaloosa.鈥�
Alabama coach Nick Saban praised 蜜柚直播 as a quality opponent.
"蜜柚直播 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.听
The two programs have a mutual connection in Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, who served as 蜜柚直播鈥檚 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 蜜柚直播 Stadium. Byrne took over as Alabama's AD in January 2017.
Byrne can be credited for 蜜柚直播'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 蜜柚直播, scheduled the series in 2014.
Byrne said the 蜜柚直播-Alabama series will provide "our teams and our fan bases exciting new opportunities during the regular season."
蜜柚直播'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. 蜜柚直播 last hosted an SEC team in 2003, when LSU beat the Wildcats 59-13 at 蜜柚直播 Stadium.
Here's a look at 蜜柚直播'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:听at 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:听at Hawaii (Aug. 30), KANSAS STATE (Sept. 14)
2026: NAU (Sept. 5), @ BYU (Sept. 12)
2027:听at 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:听at Virginia Tech (Aug. 30)
2031: NEBRASKA (Sept. 13)
2032:听at Alabama (Sept. 4)
2033: ALABAMA (Sept. 3)
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Contact sports content producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter @justinesports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
