The University of Alabama is retaliating against the University of Texas as the schools prepare to meet on the football field for the second consecutive season in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
As Texas did before last season’s clash in Austin, Alabama is forcing Texas fans and the school band to sit in the upper deck of Bryant-Denny Stadium for the game.
After hearing of last year’s arrangement before the contest, Alabama decided not to bring its band to Austin. However, according to Fox Sports, Texas will still bring its band to Tuscaloosa, but it will be a smaller portion, which will not perform during halftime.
“We are able to reciprocate a similar seating arrangement to what we had last year in Austin,” Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne explained to Tuscaloosa News.
Each conference has its own rules regarding the ticketing allotments for visiting teams. In the SEC, visiting teams receive 5,000 tickets, including seats for the band; at least 2,000 of those tickets must be located in the lower levels.
The Big 12 requires that visitors receive a minimum of 2,500 tickets but does not specify where those seats must be located.
Since Saturday’s game will be a nonconference contest, the ticket allotment was determined in the agreement both universities signed when announcing their home-and-home series in 2018. According to Tuscaloosa News, the deal allows 5,000 tickets for the visiting institution, including the band, and leaves the band’s location up to the hosting school.
No.11 Texas (1-0) and No.3 Alabama (1-0) will play the second game of the agreement at 6 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Alabama won last year’s game 20-19, as Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers left the game with an injury, and the Longhorns faltered amid missed opportunities.
While both teams will be members of the SEC next season, they are not scheduled to face each other in 2024.