Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

A Tuscaloosa County family wrapped up the Lauren Beck Memorial Book Drive in memory of Lauren Beck, a Hillcrest High School graduate who died from leukemia at 23—collecting over 1,200 books and $420 for the Friends of the Tuscaloosa Library bookstore—and will host annual donations to honor her love of reading.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ® Eta Xi Omega Chapter in partnership with the Uplift Our Local Community Initiative opened nominations for first-year educators at Tuscaloosa City and County schools for two $500 grants — applications close October 10 — to help new teachers start strong.

Alabama beat ULM 73-0 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in a historic game that broke the school record for shutouts — it surpassed the old best from 1973.

Ty Simpson went 17-for-17 and new players got extra time as the team prepares for SEC play.

The Tuscaloosa News ranked the top new high school football coaches in the area based on records, playoff appearances and scoring trends—Brian Gunnels of Sulligent led the list after deep playoff runs since 2023 while DeMario Pippen, Anthony Sawyer, Brian Newton and Cory Cockrell were also recognized.

Chris Washington Jr., a 6 ft 8 in small forward from Gainesville who did not get an offer from Florida, committed to Alabama basketball’s 2026 class after visiting Tuscaloosa—he picked the Crimson Tide over Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Villanova and FAMU.

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said there was a competition for right tackle as freshman Michael Carroll held his own replacing redshirt sophomore Wilkin Formby during Saturday night’s game—he noted Carroll’s hard work in practice makes him a strong contender.

Alabama football celebrated a dominant 73-0 win against UL Monroe at Bryant-Denny Stadium, evening their record to 1-1 after an earlier loss to Florida State— the team now prepares for a home game against Wisconsin on Sept.

13 at noon EST to boost their playoff resume.

Evanescence Concert

6-9 p.m. — Tuscaloosa Amphitheater — Check for ticket details — Experience the powerful sounds of Evanescence live as they promote their latest music.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Tuscaloosa Amphitheater — Check local listings — Experience the unforgettable hits of a legendary music partnership.

Tuscaloosa Oktoberfest 5K

8-9 a.m. — Government Plaza — Registration fees apply — Lace up for a day of fun and purpose while supporting the American Cancer Society.

Peter Noone Live

7-11 p.m. — Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater — Ticket prices vary — Experience the legendary sound of Peter Noone, the iconic lead singer of Herman's Hermits.

Tuscaloosa Taco & Margarita Festival

12-6 p.m. — The Venue — Ticket prices vary — Taste bold tacos, chilled margaritas, and enjoy live music at this ultimate fiesta.

The Brook & The Bluff Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — Druid City Music Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the expertly crafted songs and sublime musicianship of Nashville-based band The Brook & The Bluff.

Alabama Law Tailgate on the Quad

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library — Free entry — Tailgate with Dean Brewbaker before the big game on the Quad.

Greensky Bluegrass Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — The Historic Bama Theatre — Check for ticket prices — Experience an electrifying night of bluegrass music from the renowned Greensky Bluegrass.