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
Former Alabama OL starter transferring to SEC rival
Alabama football will see one of its ex-starters next season. Wilkin Formby is joining Texas A&M out of the transfer portal, after three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Formby shared the news to his Instagram account on Wednesday. He opted to enter the transfer portal after the 2025 season came to an end with a 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
The Tuscaloosa native and Northridge product played both guard and tackle this past season. Coaches praised his versatility.
“Wilkin obviously has the athleticism to to play inside, and the size,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said in September. “So I think there’s a couple things that happen for Wilkin in there, his natural pad-level because he’s got his hand in the dirt, and he’s got a good base and wide frame, so he’d done a really nice job in there. So we keep working on that and expand. As long as he can stay right-handed, playing on the right side, I think the transition for him is easy.”
Formby started out the year at right tackle, where he had previously played. He eventually moved over to guard, after Michael Carroll emerged as a viable tackle option.
The departure of Formby is part of a larger renovation of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line, which has now lost every starter besides Carroll. Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford opted to leave early for the NFL Draft, while Geno VanDeMark, Kam Dewberry and Jaeden Roberts are out of eligibility.
Alabama is also losing several reserve linemen to the portal. Arkel Anugwom is entering, joining Olaus Alinen (who committed to Kentucky), Joseph Ionata and Micah DeBose.
UA has made one offensive line pickup from the portal. Former Michigan center Kaden Strayhorn is joining the Tide.
Alabama will face Formby in Tuscaloosa this season. Texas A&M visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 24.
Undergraduate players can opt to enter the transfer portal through Jan. 16.
Alabama
Prediction, odds for Alabama vs. Vanderbilt in Top 15 SEC showdown
After an impressive home win over Kentucky this past Saturday afternoon, the SEC road opener has now arrived for the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is a trip to Nashville to face the unbeaten Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night.
Two teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Alabama and Vanderbilt have emerged as two of the SEC’s top teams this season, and are also both currently among the top scoring teams in all of college basketball.
Both of Alabama and Vanderbilt are also loaded with talent as well, headlined by a talented group of guards such as Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide, as well as the Commodores duo of Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner.
Stream Alabama vs. Vanderbilt on Fubo
Stream Alabama vs. Vanderbilt on ESPN+
One of college basketball’s top matchups of the week, following are the latest odds for the SEC showdown between Alabama and Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 6:
- Money Line: Alabama (plus-145), Vanderbilt (minus-180)
- Spread: Vanderbilt by 4 1/2
- Over/Under: 178 1/2
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores prediction, pick:
Memorial Gymnasium can be a difficult place to play for a road team at times, and it will likely be challenging for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night, especially with the undefeated Commodores on the opposite end of the floor. A matchup in which Alabama has won four-straight dating back to 2023, as well as the last five in Nashville, I’ll go with Alabama to hand Vanderbilt their first loss Wednesday night in a high-scoring contest. Prediction: Alabama 88, Vanderbilt 82
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores channel, start time, streaming:
A Top 25 showdown, Alabama and Vanderbilt are set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, from inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.
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Alabama
Alabama offensive lineman transferring to Georgia Tech
Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.
Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.
Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.
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