(BCSNN) — Alabama and West Virginia have mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home football series scheduled for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, the schools announced. The decision comes just days after the Southeastern Conference formally adopted a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, prompting a wave of non-conference adjustments across the league.

The Crimson Tide were slated to visit Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, with the Mountaineers scheduled to return the trip to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 4, 2027. Alabama cited the SEC’s expanded scheduling model as the primary reason for the cancellation, noting the need for greater flexibility in balancing its future strength of schedule and postseason positioning.

"We have a bit more flexibility as we transition to a nine-game format in the Southeastern Conference, and it gives us the opportunity to further evaluate how strength of schedule is evaluated for the College Football Playoff," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “Between the other home-and-homes as well as conference games, we will continue to have a solid strength of schedule, which is good for our team, fans and college football."

West Virginia also acknowledged strategic motivations behind the move. Athletic director Wren Baker said the program is aligning with a scheduling philosophy that includes one Power Four opponent, one Group of Five opponent, and one FCS team annually—a structure increasingly favored by playoff contenders. "This scheduling philosophy has proven to be successful across college football. It aligns our football program with its competition in terms of potential postseason opportunities and advancement," Baker said.

In place of Alabama, West Virginia has added home games against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 5, 2026, and Southern Miss on Sept. 4, 2027. The Mountaineers will also host UT Martin and Virginia in 2026, and VMI and Ohio in 2027. The additions ensure seven home games in both seasons, a priority for the university and local tourism officials.

Alabama, meanwhile, will now host East Carolina on Sept. 5, 2026, and South Florida on Sept. 12, with a previously scheduled matchup against Florida State on Sept. 19 rounding out its non-conference slate. In 2027, the Tide will face Ohio State on the road and are expected to finalize additional opponents in the coming months.

The SEC’s move to a nine-game format includes three annual opponents and six rotating conference games, ensuring each team plays every other SEC school at least once every two years. The league also requires each member to schedule at least one Power Four non-conference opponent annually, further complicating long-term planning.

While the cancellation ends a high-profile series between two tradition-rich programs, both Alabama and West Virginia emphasized their commitment to competitive scheduling and postseason advancement. As the playoff landscape continues to shift, strategic flexibility may prove as valuable as marquee matchups.