Alabama
Alabama rolls to 98-77 win over Wake Forest in Boutwell Auditorium exhibition game
Aden Holloway scored a game-high 20 points to lead five players in double figures as Alabama rolled to a 98-77 victory over Wake Forest in a charity exhibition game at Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium on Friday night.
Holloway, an Auburn transfer, hit five 3-pointers and also passed out six assists in his first game action as a member of the Crimson Tide. All-America guard Mark Sears added 19 points and six assists, as Alabama outscored Wake Forest 52-39 in the second half.
Freshman Labaron Philon chipped in 13 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Crimson Tide, while Jarin Stevenson and Mouhamed Dioubate each scored 10. Alabama made 19 of 46 3-point attempts in the game, 11 of 24 in the second half.
Four Alabama players — forwards Grant Nelson and Aiden Sherrell and guards Latrell Wrightsell and Chris Youngblood — sat out of the game with injuries, though only Youngblood (ankle) is expected to miss significant time once the regular season begins. Freshman forward Derrion Reid, troubled by a hand injury in the preseason, played 23 minutes Friday and finished with seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.
“It was good to get this group out together for the first time,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “We didn’t have four of our guys, but I thought we had enough of them to kind of see how we want to play. I thought the defensive intensity was better than what we had seen at points last year. I thought it had some lapses. But I thought the play Sears made — he kind of stood the guy up, got a steal and then they fouled him getting out. I thought the play Derrion Reid made with the block, the save and then we get the block on the other end. Those effort plays are what we’re trying to be about.”
Alabama — coming off its first Final Four appearance and ranked No. 2 in the preseason Associated Press poll — took the lead for good at 21-18 on Philon’s 3-pointer at the 10:37 mark of the first half. The Crimson Tide built a 46-38 halftime lead and never led by fewer than five in the second half.
Hunter Sallis led Wake Forest with 16 points, while Omaha Biliew had 15 and Alabama transfer Davin Cosby 12 with four assists. The Demon Deacons made just 9 of 24 3-pointers and 10 of 20 free throws.
Alabama and Wake Forest met in an exhibition game for the second straight year. The Demon Deacons won 88-80 in Winston-Salem, N.C. last October.
Friday’s game was Alabama’s first in Boutwell Auditorium since an intrasquad scrimmage to open the 1979-80 season. The Crimson Tide will play a second exhibition game Oct. 28 vs. Memphis in Huntsville before opening the regular season at home Nov. 4 vs. UNC-Asheville.
Alabama
Alabama AG files emergency request to reinstate congressional map before May 19 primary
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is asking a federal court to allow the state to use its own congressional district map ahead of the May 19 primary, arguing that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision has changed the legal landscape for voting rights redistricting challenges.
Marshall filed an emergency motion with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama seeking to lift injunctions that have blocked Alabama from using the congressional map enacted by the Legislature. The request follows what Marshall described as a landmark Supreme Court ruling last week that “significantly changed the legal standards governing voting rights redistricting claims.”
In that ruling, the Supreme Court held that states have authority to draw district lines based on political and traditional geographic considerations, and that challengers must show race — not partisan politics — drove a state’s decisions. The court also held that pointing to racially polarized voting patterns alone is not enough to prove a violation without also showing the voting patterns could not be explained by party affiliation.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed that the claims that led to the injunctions against Alabama’s map are no longer viable,” Marshall said. “We are asking the court to lift those injunctions so that Alabama can conduct its congressional elections using the map its legislature lawfully enacted.”
The filing is the latest in a series of actions Marshall has taken since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. On April 30, Marshall filed emergency motions with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to vacate the congressional map injunctions and remand the cases. On May 4, he filed a separate emergency motion with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to lift injunctions involving a different set of maps — Alabama’s state Senate districts.
The motion filed today asks the original district court that issued the congressional map injunctions to stay its own orders while appeals continue.
Gov. Kay Ivey has called the Alabama Legislature into a special session this week to prepare for the possibility that elections may proceed under the state’s map. Marshall asked the court to rule no later than 3 p.m. tomorrow, May 6, saying the state needs time to make preparations before the primary.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
“Alabama deserves the same opportunity as every other state to conduct its elections in an orderly manner using a map drawn by its own legislature,” Marshall said. “I will continue to do everything in my power to make that a reality. We are confident the court will recognize that last week’s Supreme Court decision requires a fresh look at these injunctions.”
Alabama
No NFL team has more Alabama football players than this one
Every April, Alabama football sends a fresh batch of players to the NFL via the NFL draft.
This past April, the Crimson Tide’s streak of having at least one player selected in the first round reached 18 straight years when offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor went to the Miami Dolphins with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One pick later, the Los Angeles Rams made the most stunning move of the draft when they selected quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall.
Alabama’s 18-year streak of having at least one player selected in the draft is the longest in college football history. The Ohio State Buckeyes are second to Alabama, having had a player drafted in the first round in 11 consecutive years. The Georgia Bulldogs have now done it nine years in a row.
The Crimson Tide had 10 players taken overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Germie Bernard was a second-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Alabama had seven players drafted on Day 3: LT Overton (fourth round, Dallas Cowboys), Parker Brailsford (fifth round, Cleveland Browns), Justin Jefferson (fifth round, Cleveland), Josh Cuevas (fifth round, Baltimore Ravens), Domani Jackson (sixth round, Green Bay Packers), Tim Keenan III (seventh round, Rams), and Jam Miller (seventh round, New England Patriots).
As for which team has the most Alabama players on its roster after the draft? Take a look.
Which NFL teams have the most Alabama football players?
Here’s a breakdown of Alabama players on current NFL rosters following the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9 — DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Cameron Latu, Jihaad Campbell, Byron Young, Deontae Lawson, Jaeden Roberts, Jalen Hurts (Alabama/Oklahoma)
- Atlanta Falcons: 5 — Da’Shawn Hand, Tua Tagovailoa, Christian Harris, DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Robinson
- Detroit Lions: 4 — Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Terrion Arnold
- Seattle Seahawks: 4 — Jarren Reed, Josh Jobe, Jalen Milroe, Robbie Ouzts
- Baltimore Ravens: 3 — Derrick Henry, Marlon Humphrey, Josh Cuevas
- Carolina Panthers: 3 — Bryce Young, John Metchie, LaBryan Ray
- Cleveland Browns: 3 — Jerry Jeudy, Parker Brailsford, Justin Jefferson
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 — Quinnen Williams, Tyler Booker, LT Overton
- Denver Broncos: 3 — Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain II, Que Robinson
- Green Bay Packers: 3 — Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney, Domani Jackson
- Los Angeles Chargers: 3 — Dalvin Tomlinson, JK Scott, Justin Eboigbe
- Los Angeles Rams: 3 — Ty Simpson, Tim Keenan III, Nikhai Hill-Green
- New England Patriots: 3 — Christian Barmore, CJ Dippre, Jam Miller
- New Orleans Saints: 3 — Anfernee Jennings, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dashawn Jones
- Cincinnati Bengals: 2 — Jonathan Allen, Jordan Battle
- Houston Texans: 2 — Will Anderson Jr., Henry To’oTo’o
- Miami Dolphins: 2 — Ronnie Harrison Jr, Kadyn Proctor
- Minnesota Vikins: 2 — Dallas Turner, Will Reichard
- New York Jets: 2 — Minkah Fitzpatrick, Malachi Moore
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2 — A’Shawn Robinson, Chris Braswell
- Tennessee Titans: 2 — Calvin Ridley, JC Latham
- Arizona Cardinals: 1 — Mack Wilson
- Buffalo Bills: 1 — Phidarian Mathis
- Chicago Bears: 1 — Jedrick Wills Jr.
- Indianapolis Colts: 1 — Tim Smith
- New York Giants: 1 — Evan Neal
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 1 — Germie Bernard
- San Francisco 49ers: 1 — Mac Jones
- Washington Commanders: 1 — Daron Payne
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 0
- Kansas City Chiefs: 0
- Las Vegas Raiders: 0
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
Alabama
LIVE: Alabama GOP Senate candidates take part in forum
MOBILE, Ala. (WSFA) – Four of the six Republican candidates seeking to be the GOP’s nominee for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat are set to take part in a forum Monday evening.
WSFA 12 News will carry the forum live at 6 p.m. on our website, as well as our news and smart TV apps, and on our Facebook and Youtube channels.
The forum is being hosted by the Azalea City Republican Women of Mobile.
The participants include Seth Burton, Dale Shelton Deas Jr., Steve Marshall, and Rodney Walker.
Rep. Barry Moore and Jared Hudson are not participating.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
-
Technology6 minutes agoGoogle Home’s Gemini AI can handle more complicated requests
-
World12 minutes agoSouth African police airlift massive crocodile suspected of eating missing local
-
Politics18 minutes agoTrump marks Cinco de Mayo with ‘NICE’ post, echoing past viral taco bowl moment
-
Health24 minutes agoSleep apnea may be quietly changing your body in an unexpected way, study finds
-
Sports30 minutes agoWWE star Chelsea Green reveals she underwent ‘heart procedure’ to address SVT
-
Technology36 minutes agoInstantly upgrade your streaming: At home and when traveling
-
Business42 minutes agoCrypto exchange Coinbase to lay off 14% of staff as AI reshapes work
-
Entertainment48 minutes agoWhitney Leavitt is leaving ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ after Season 5 wraps