Isaias threatens Alabama-Georgia game
The undefeated, top-seven SEC teams remained scheduled for Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa as forecasts warned of 50-to-60-mph gusts, flooding and tornadoes.
OCT 9, 2026

Forecast wind gusts
Georgia and Alabama records
Each team’s SEC record in 2025
01 · The NewsIsaias Threatens Alabama-Georgia
The undefeated, top-seven SEC teams remained scheduled for Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa as forecasts warned of 50-to-60-mph gusts, flooding and tornadoes.
Alabama and Georgia remained scheduled Friday for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday, Oct. 10, in Tuscaloosa, but Tropical Storm Isaias threatened to move the SEC’s biggest early-season playoff matchup out of its planned window.
There were currently no plans to change the kickoff as Isaias neared Category 3 hurricane strength Friday morning. Meteorologist Matt Lanza forecast 50-to-60-mph gusts across much of Alabama and eastern Mississippi from Friday night into Saturday morning.
The storm also was forecast to bring damaging winds, flooding rain, storm surge and a chance of tornadoes to the Southeast. The immediate concern may be wind-related power and safety problems near the site, not rain alone.
Officials had not said whether they would change the kickoff, move the game, delay it, postpone it or cancel it. Conditions at kickoff also remained uncertain, and no timetable for a decision had been announced.
Both teams reached the matchup with wins on Oct. 3: Alabama beat Mississippi State 56-23, while Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 38-14. Alabama finished 11-4 in 2025, including a 7-1 SEC record; Georgia went 12-2 and also finished 7-1 in conference play.
Josh Pate’s preseason bracket picked Georgia as the national champion and Alabama as a playoff team, putting two projected postseason teams in the path of the weather threat before their first meeting of 2026.
For now, the plan remains Georgia at Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The storm could force the decision away from the field before the teams get there.
02 · The StakesWhy It Matters
That uncertainty hangs over two undefeated, top-seven SEC teams. Georgia is 5-0 and ranked No. 2; Alabama is 5-0 and ranked No. 7. A change to the time or venue would disrupt preparation for both teams and could alter the scheduled window for a game tied to the conference’s early race for a top postseason position.
“This is likely enough wind to cause some widespread power line issues.”
Matt Lanza03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Does the kickoff move?
Officials had not said whether they would change the kickoff, move the game, delay it, postpone it or cancel it.
What are conditions near the site?
The immediate concern may be wind-related power and safety problems near the site, not rain alone.