Alabama News

LSU will face both Louisiana Tech and Southeastern Louisiana in football this season, continuing a long-standing practice of scheduling non-conference games against in-state Group of 5 or FCS opponents.

The Tigers have faced at least one in-state non-conference opponent every year since 2018, with the exception of 2020 when the COVID pandemic led to an All-SEC schedule during the regular season. LSU did have a game scheduled with Nicholls that season, which was later moved to 2024.

LSU coach Brian Kelly was asked about his scheduling philosophy at SEC Media Days on Monday. Like all SEC teams, the Tigers are required to play at least one power-conference opponent in a non-conference game each season (LSU opens with Clemson this year), but he said he’s in favor of playing in-state schools in order to “balance the schedule” and share the wealth.

“In the state of Louisiana, we have such a passionate base,” Kelly said. “Why not play the schools from your own state and share in the revenue? Share around, if we’re gonna have to pay somebody to come in and play us, why not pay your in-state schools and take care of them? And we’ve got some great schools. We’re gonna play Louisiana Tech and Southeast Louisiana this year, and we’re excited about those. So it’s really about sharing with those that are in the state and balancing the schedule.”

That’s a sharp contrast to Alabama, which hasn’t played an in-state non-conference opponent since it faced Howard College (now Samford) in 1944. The Crimson Tide does face in-state SEC rival Auburn each year, as it has done since 1948.

While former Alabama Nick Saban said as recently as 2022 that he would be in favor of facing in-state non-conference schools on a periodic basis, the idea has gained no traction with the man ultimately in charge of scheduling — Greg Byrne. The Crimson Tide athletics director has typically shut down any such discussions, saying in 2024 that “we have a scheduling model we’re comfortable with at this time.”

Auburn has played or has scheduled every Division I school in the state of Alabama in a non-conference game since 1996, with the exception of Troy. The Tigers face South Alabama for the first time this season, and will meet North Alabama in 2028.

Arkansas also has traditionally shied away from in-state opposition until very recently. The Razorbacks hosted Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the first time to begin the 2024 season (winning 70-0) and will play its first-ever game vs. Arkansas State on Sept. 6 in Little Rock.

Four SEC schools have built-in non-conference rivalry games — Georgia (Georgia Tech), Florida (Florida State), South Carolina (Clemson) and Kentucky (Louisville), respectively. However, the Gators have also faced Florida Atlantic, South Florida and Central Florida in recent years, and plays both USF and Miami this season in addition to FSU as always.

The Gamecocks have also played Wofford, Furman and South Carolina State the last three seasons, and will face South Carolina State again this year. The Wildcats faced Murray State and Eastern Kentucky the last two seasons, and has another game scheduled with Murray State in 2027.

The Bulldogs have not played an in-state team other than Georgia Tech since facing Georgia Southern in 2015, and does not have any others scheduled. Ole Miss has not played an in-state non-conference opponent since Southern Miss in 1984, but does have a game with Alcorn State scheduled for 2028.

Damien Harris was at Top Golf on Jan. 10, 2024 when a friend of his asked when Harris thought Nick Saban would retire.

“When he physically cannot walk off the field,” Harris recalled telling his friend. “When somebody has to pick him up and carry him off the field, that might be when he retires.”

Then a few minutes later, news broke of Saban retiring. Every TV at Top Golf had it.

“I’m just like, this don’t feel right because he can still do it,” Harris told AL.com at SEC Media Days on Monday.

Since then, Saban has been out of coaching. He’s been an analyst for ESPN, among other things. But could he return to coaching ever?

“Given the proper opportunity, given the right circumstances, I think it would be a no brainer for him,” Harris said. ”Miss Terry on the other end, I don’t know if she would agree. I know Miss Terry. She loves having coach Saban at home. But again, if that’s what’s destined for Nick Saban, which it seems like it is, you can’t stop destiny.”

Another former Alabama player, Greg McElroy, made headlines on the first day of SEC Media Days when he brought up the possibility of the 73-year-old ESPN analyst getting back into coaching.

“A very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire, they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching,” McElroy said on WJOX. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again.”

Saban retired after the 2023 season, wrapping up about a half century of coaching. Over that time, Saban won seven national championships with six at Alabama and one at LSU.

“This is a guy who loves college football,” Harris said. “This is a guy who doesn’t just step away because he’s like, ‘ah you know what I served my time, I did what I was supposed to do. I just want to watch sunsets now.’ That’s not Nick Saban. He’s not built that way.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

This weekend, Alabama families can gear up for another school year by shopping during the state’s annual sales tax holiday.

The holiday is from July 18 to July 21. Certain items are exempted from the state sales tax. Local cities and counties may also opt to waive their local sales or use tax.

Madison County is the latest locality to join the tax-free weekend. To see which areas are participating in the tax-free weekend, go to the Department of Revenue website.

For a complete list of eligible and ineligible items, download this PDF shopping list from the Department of Revenue.

What items are tax-free?

Clothing: Apparel of $100 or less per article of clothing

Included:

• Belts
• Shoes, including boots, sneakers and sandals
• Caps/hats
• Coats/jackets/raincoats
• Diapers
• Dresses
• Gloves
• Gym Suits
• Hosiery
• Jeans/pants
• Neckties
• Pajamas
• Robes
• School Uniforms
• Shirts
• Shorts
• Socks
• Underwear

Not eligible:

• Belt buckles (sold separately)
• Breathing masks
• Briefcases
• Cosmetics
• Costume masks (sold separately)
• Hair notions like barrettes and hair bows
• Handbags
• Handkerchiefs
• Jewelry
• Sunglasses, eyeglasses, contacts (prescription or nonprescription)
• Umbrellas
• Wallets
• Watches
• Ballet or tap shoes
• Band instruments
• Cleated or spiked athletic shoes
• Gloves (baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey, golf, etc.)
• Goggles
• Hand, mouth, shin and elbow guards
• Roller and ice skates
• Shoulder pads
• Ski boots
• Waders
• Wetsuits and fins
• Wigs and hair pieces

Books and school supplies: $50 or less per item

Included:

• Required textbooks on an official school book list that’s between $50 or less
• Other books that are $30 or less
• Binders
• Book bags
• Calculators
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue, paste, and paste sticks
• Clay and glazes
• School art supplies like, paints, clay, sketchpads and paintbrushes
• Reference maps and globes
• Highlighters & markers
• Lunch boxes
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Pencils and pens
• Rulers
• Scissors

Not eligible:

• Magazines
• Newspapers and periodicals

Computers and Electronic Supplies

An eligible item is a single purchase of $750 or less. Eligible computers can include a laptop or desktop with included parts like a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. Separate computer parts and devices are not eligible.

Included:

• Computer software
• Computer storage media like disks
• Handheld electronic schedulers, except devices that are cellular phones
• Personal digital assistants
• Computer printers
• Printer supplies for computers (paper and ink)

Not eligible:

• Furniture
• Any systems, devices, software, peripherals designed or intended primarily for recreational use
• Video games of a non-educational nature

Huntsville’s congressman has been named to a commission charged with monitoring and reporting on the Chinese government.

House Speaker Mike Johnson appointed Rep. Dale Strong, a Republican who represents the 5th Congressional District, as a commissioner on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China last week.

Strong said the commission plays “a crucial role” in highlighting efforts by China to subvert U.S. interests.

“The Chinese Communist Party is relentless in its efforts to undermine America, not just through open confrontation but by exploiting our laws, infiltrating our institutions, and using covert tactics to weaken our economy and security from within,” Strong said in a news release.

Established by Congress in 2000, the commission monitors the rule of law in China and creates transparency and accountability reports on the actions of the Chinese government. The bipartisan group comprises nine Senators, nine members of the House of Representatives and five senior administration officials appointed by the president.

The commission submits an annual report to Congress and the White House that informs U.S. policy decisions on China. It holds formal hearings and roundtables with academics, government officials, business representatives, and other experts to gather information for the report.

The 2024 report included findings on China’s efforts to restrict online and in-person expression, suppress religious practices and falsely imprison dissidents.

Every game in the SEC matters, but, for Garrett Nussmeier, the Alabama game is one he has circled this upcoming season.

The game between his LSU Tigers and the Crimson Tide last year, he said, wasn’t too big for him, for starters, despite the 42-13 loss at the hands of Kalen DeBoer’s team.

“I spent a lot of time in Bryant-Denny as a kid, I had some memories there,” the LSU quarterback said of playing at Alabama in November. “I will say that I didn’t feel like the moment was too big. Being there was kind of like when we played at Florida, having those experiences in those place. I’ve trained on those fields. I’ve played on those fields. It wasn’t too big of a moment.”

Nussmeier’s dad, Doug Nussmeier, served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Florida (2015-17), Michigan (2014) and Alabama (2012-13), so Garrett Nussmeier can relate to big-time venues as he experienced them as a kid.

“Very excited to get back there,” the quarterback said. “Have a lot of friends still in Tuscaloosa. Anytime we get to go back to a place we used to live, it’s pretty special.”

That’s not to say there wasn’t a learning curve the last time he played the Tide.

He threw for 239 yards and a touchdown but had two costly interceptions, including a Deontae Lawson pick at the goal line early in the third quarter. He finished with three turnovers.

“As far as X’s and O’s, there are some learning experiences from that game being young and making some mistakes,” he said. “Also, doing some things pretty well and learning from those.”

Doug Nussmeier, meanwhile, guided AJ McCarron to a then-school-best 30 passing touchdowns, including four in Alabama’s victory over Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

With the 2025 WNBA All-Star game taking place this Saturday, teams are looking to make a strong final push before the midway point of the season. A huge matchup to watch will be between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night. Tensions flared the last time these two teams met.

The Fever are back over .500 following their blowout win vs the Dallas Wings on Sunday. Caitlin Clark is slowly getting back to her normal output, as she recorded 14 points and 13 assists in just 25 minutes on Sunday. Kelsey Mitchell (20), Natasha Howard (18), Aliyah Boston (17) and Sophie Cunningham (13) all scored big-time buckets against the Wings.

The Sun remain the worst team in the league with a 3-18 record. There really isn’t much to look forward to when discussing Connecticut’s 2025 season, other than it being an utter disappointment. They’re coming off of a 92-88 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

The demand to see Caitlin Clark is so massive, that this game will be played at the TD Garden in Boston, home of the Celtics.

Fans looking to tune into the Fever vs Sun game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Fever and Sun tipoff:

When: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Time: 8 p.m. E.T.

Fans looking to tune into the Fever vs Sun game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

A brand new season of the hit history docuseries Life After People returns to the History Channel Monday, July 14 at 10/9c.

The sudden revival of the series comes 15 years after the sophomore season, which hit the network in 2010.

Those hoping to catch the return of the series can stream the premiere live through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Life After People about?

For those unfamiliar with the series, Life After People provides an in-depth picture of a post-human future. Throughout the series, the fate of structures like the Sears Tower and the Sistine Chapel are revealed, and assumptions are provided about what creatures might inherit the places we once lived.

Supporting the visuals and special effects are interviews with specialists from the fields of engineering, botany, biology, geology and archaeology.

What to know about the upcoming premiere

Life After People season three consists of eight episodes, and the debut episode focuses on one of life’s most precious resources: water.

In a world without humans, water turns from that precious resource and life-giver to destroyer by flooding cities, collapsing dams and triggering ancient forces long kept at bay.

Other upcoming episodes in Life After People season three will focus on other environmental elements including urban jungles and deserts.

How to watch Life After People season 3

Those interested in seeing the comeback of the History Channel’s Life After People can stream the premiere of season three through Philo, DirecTV or Sling.

Both Philo and DirecTV offer free trials for new subscribers to enjoy before committing to a paid plan while Sling offers those that commit to a paid subscription half off their first month.

Out of the three streaming services listed above, Philo is the cheapest at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial concludes.

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.

New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.

Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV is a top streaming service perfect for those looking to access a plethora of live TV channels and enjoy helpful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

DirecTV has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allows subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. With genre packs, users can get the channels and content they want without filler channel overload. Packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages and the new genre packs can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top-rated TV channels like the History Channel. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

Kade Snell’s baseball journey finally will take him to a team outside of Alabama after the Chicago Cubs selected the Crimson Tide outfielder at No. 151 in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

The Cubs took Snell in the fifth round after he hit .363 with a .464 on-base average and .575 slugging percentage in 2025. In 58 games, Snell had 49 runs, 77 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 52 RBIs.

A two-time All-State selection at Wicksburg High School in Newton, Snell went to Auburn as a left-hander pitcher in 2021. But after not playing for the Tigers in his freshman season, Snell moved to Wallace State Community College in Dothan for two seasons. In 2023, he won the NJCAA Division I National Player of the Year Award as he posted a 10-0 record and 1.86 earned-run average on the mound and hit .393 with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs at the plate.

Snell played the past two seasons at Alabama and served as the Crimson Tide’s team captain in 2025.

Snell did not pitch for Alabama in 2025 after making 10 appearances, with six starts, on the mound for the Tide in 2024.

While Snell didn’t strike out any batters this season, he didn’t strike out much either. He fanned only 18 times in 261 plate appearances in 2025.

Snell became the second player picked from Alabama’s 2025 team. The Minnesota Twins chose pitcher Riley Quick at No. 36 on Sunday night.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

An Alabama company is pausing production at one of its plants in order to help with disaster relief efforts in Texas.

Milo’s Tea Company, which is headquartered in Bessemer, Alabama, recently announced it has paused production of tea and lemonade at its plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in order to bottle drinking water for those impacted by the flood disaster in Texas instead.

Tricia Wallwork, CEO of Milo’s Tea Company, Inc., shared that the company sent five truckloads – 124 pallets and more than 119,000 bottles – of Milo’s bottled water to the San Antonio Food Bank to support flood relief efforts.

“I am thankful that we can do a small, little something to help,” Wallwork wrote on LinkedIn. “Our Teams’ response was swift. It came together in just 24 hours. Every single function at Milo’s – from operations and supply chain to quality and logistics – rallied to make it happen. It’s the definition of our HAT values: Hungry. Agile. Together.”

Read more: 11 Alabama foods everyone should try once

Wallwork also said the donation was made possible through partnerships with R.E. Garrison Trucking, Inc., Feeding America and H-E-B.

Search operations are still underway in parts of Texas after the Guadalupe River in Kerr County caused massive flash flooding on July 4, killing at least 129 people, including several Alabama residents.

“Disaster response has long been one of the pillars of our Corporate Responsibility commitment at Milo’s,” said Wallwork. “From Hurricane Helene in North Carolina earlier this year to today’s flooding in Texas, we’ll continue showing up authentically where we’re needed – with heart, humility, and help.”