As the sports calendar turns to 2026, Tuscaloosa finds itself at the center of college athletics once again, with both the University of Alabama and the University of North Alabama making headlines in football and women's tennis. With the NCAA transfer portal window wide open and the tennis season about to kick off, the Crimson Tide and the Lions are each navigating pivotal moments that could shape their upcoming campaigns.
On the tennis courts, the University of North Alabama women's team is set to launch its 2026 championship season against a formidable SEC foe: Alabama. Scheduled for Friday, January 16 at 10 a.m. at the Alabama Tennis Stadium, this match marks the Lions' third time in four years opening their season against an SEC opponent. The contest is more than just an early test—it's a chance for North Alabama to build on a record-setting 2025 and perhaps notch their first win ever against the Crimson Tide in just their second all-time meeting.
North Alabama enters the new season riding high after a historic 2025 campaign. The Lions posted a program-best 19-6 overall record, including a 7-2 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Their postseason run saw them defeat Austin Peay and North Florida in the ASUN Championship Tournament before falling to top-seeded Stetson in the final. Their success didn't go unnoticed: Stanislava Bobrovnikova and Eeva Ristola were named the ASUN's Doubles Pair of the Year, and head coach Olaya Garrido-Rivas earned ASUN Coach of the Year honors—her first since North Alabama's transition to Division I.
The Lions' achievements extended beyond the conference. They made their debut in the UTR Sports NIT Championship Tournament, notching their first-ever tournament win by defeating Middle Tennessee in the quarterfinals before bowing out to No. 48 Charlotte in the semifinals. The momentum from last season has set the bar high for 2026, with the squad returning a wealth of experience and talent.
Senior Eeva Ristola, a linchpin of last year's success, was named to the Preseason All-ASUN team on January 6. The Kotka, Finland native racked up 33 wins in 2025—19 in doubles and 14 in singles—while adding 17 more victories in conference play alone. Her leadership, along with that of fellow senior Senem Ocallook, will be crucial as North Alabama looks to maintain its upward trajectory. Juniors Emma Ansorge, Ada Karabacak, and Mathilde Delaney bring added stability and depth, while junior transfer Louise Booker, who arrives from UNC Asheville with 43 career wins, is expected to make an immediate impact.
The Lions aren't just relying on veterans. Freshmen Farah Asaad and Sammie Schouten are set for their collegiate debuts, adding fresh energy to a roster that returns 65 singles wins and 51 doubles victories from last spring. With such a deep and balanced lineup, North Alabama is eager to test its mettle against Alabama, a team with its own set of challenges and aspirations.
The Crimson Tide women's tennis team, led by head coach Jonatan Berhane, finished 2025 with a 13-14 record and four SEC wins, including victories over Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Mississippi State. Their season ended in the first round of the SEC Tournament against Florida. Statistically, Alabama posted an 82-70 record in singles matches (53.9 percent) and a 33-37 mark in doubles (47.1 percent). The team returns three players from last season, highlighted by Klara Milicevic, who compiled a 15-15 singles record and an 11-10 doubles record. With both teams bringing back key contributors and adding new faces, Friday's matchup promises to be a compelling early-season barometer.
Fans unable to attend in person will have plenty of ways to follow the action, with live stats available through StatBroadcast and live streaming courtesy of Alabama. Full results and recaps will be posted on RoarLions.com and across UNA Tennis social media platforms, ensuring supporters stay in the loop as the Lions chase a milestone victory.
Meanwhile, on the gridiron, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program is navigating one of the busiest transfer portal periods in recent memory. The NCAA's two-week transfer window, open until January 16, has seen significant movement both in and out of Tuscaloosa as head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff look to retool the roster for the 2026 season.
Among the biggest stories is the retention of running back AK Dear, who announced on January 15 that he will remain in Tuscaloosa for his sophomore campaign. Dear, who tallied 140 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in five games as a freshman—with most of his production coming against UL-Monroe and Eastern Illinois—returns to a running back room that has seen considerable turnover. Jam Miller, Richard Young, and Dre Washington Jr. have all departed, either through the transfer portal or by exhausting their eligibility.
Dear is now one of just three returning scholarship running backs, joined by Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley. The Crimson Tide have also added five-star recruit and Alabama native Ezavier Crowell to the backfield, though they missed out on NC State transfer Hollywood Smother, who flipped his commitment to Texas. The running back group, which struggled to find consistency last season, will be under the microscope as spring practice approaches.
Elsewhere on the roster, Alabama has both lost and gained a slew of players via the transfer portal. Departures include notable names such as Aeryn "Bubba" Hampton (Oregon State), Kameron Howard (Boston College), Roq Montgomery (Western Kentucky), Jaylen Mbakwe (Georgia Tech), Joseph Ionata (Georgia Tech), Jalen Hale (SMU), and Wilkin Formby (Texas A&M), among others. On the flip side, the Crimson Tide have welcomed additions like tight end Josh Ford (Oklahoma State), linebacker Caleb Woodson (Virginia Tech), offensive linemen Kaden Strayhorn and Ty Haywood (both from Michigan), defensive lineman Devan Thompkins (USC), kicker Lorcan Quinn (Marshall), wide receiver Noah Rogers (NC State), and defensive lineman Caleb Smith (Washington).
Special teams also get a boost with the arrival of North Alabama punter Adam Watford, who averaged an impressive 46.6 yards per punt in 2025 and placed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. His longest boot last season traveled 74 yards, and he brings valuable experience to the Crimson Tide for his final year of eligibility.
With the transfer portal window closing soon, Alabama's roster is still in flux, and fans are watching closely to see how the new faces will mesh with returning talent. The coming weeks will be crucial as the Crimson Tide seek to rebound from a tumultuous offseason and lay the groundwork for another championship run.
Back in Tuscaloosa, anticipation is building for both the tennis showdown and the next chapter of Alabama football. Whether it’s the Lions chasing history on the courts or the Crimson Tide reloading on the gridiron, one thing’s clear: the heart of Alabama sports is beating as strong as ever, with plenty of excitement on the horizon.
