The University of Alabama and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) will meet in a preseason exhibition at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. CT, Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard announced Thursday on The Next Round. The event is part of the Ballin in Boutwell series and will not count toward either team’s regular-season record.
Local venue returns to preseason basketball spotlight
Boutwell Auditorium, a downtown Birmingham site that has hosted college exhibitions before, will welcome two Southeastern Conference programs for a matchup fans say offers an early look at rosters and coaching adjustments ahead of the regular season. Alabama’s first official game this year comes Nov. 6 at home against Sam Houston, making the Oct. 15 contest an opportunity for both teams to evaluate newcomers and refine rotations in front of local supporters.
The matchup carries extra narrative weight after a late-season meeting between the programs. In the SEC Tournament quarterfinal on March 13, Ole Miss beat Alabama 80-79. Alabama, the 2-seed that year, had a double-bye in the tournament; Ole Miss, the 15-seed, advanced with consecutive upset wins over Texas and Georgia before toppling the Crimson Tide.
- Date & time: Oct. 15, 7 p.m. CT
- Location: Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham
- Context: Exhibition game; will not affect regular-season records
Coaches, recent history and what fans can expect
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard described his interest in the Ballin in Boutwell event in part as a desire to test his roster against quality competition during the preseason. He told The Next Round he was familiar with the event and valued the opportunity to prepare his team.
"Several things. Familiar with the event having watched it last year, thought it was one of the coolest things going on in the preseason exhibition cycle out there. Two, probably more important, just the chance to play quality competition as we're preparing for the season," Beard said.
For Alabama and coach Nate Oats, the game represents a chance for on-court adjustments after a Sweet 16 exit that highlighted roster needs. Oats has emphasized the need for more size heading into the coming season; the Tide’s roster will look different, with eight incoming freshmen and transfers noted as part of the turnover.
Birmingham-area fans may recall Alabama’s recent exhibition history in the venue: the Tide beat Wake Forest 98-77 in the 2024 "Bama in Boutwell" exhibition and outlasted Florida State 109-105 in 2025 when the event adopted the Ballin in Boutwell name amid expanded participation and sponsorships.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exhibition date | Oct. 15, 7 p.m. CT |
| Venue | Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham |
| Regular-season opener (Alabama) | Nov. 6 vs. Sam Houston |
Tickets, parking and any event-specific health or safety information will be handled by event organizers and the venue; fans interested in attending should watch local outlets and team channels for ticketing announcements. The Birmingham appearance continues the city’s role as a regional stop for high-profile college exhibitions and gives local basketball supporters an early look at two SEC programs as they prepare for the 2026-27 season.
