Yes, the Tide is paying $1.7 million to a non-conference foe — in this case, Arkansas State — to travel to Tuscaloosa and presumably take a beating. The game will be September 8; the Tide opens the ’18 season with a neutral-site game in Orlando against Louisville a week earlier.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettes reported that the check the Red Wolves will receive is the highest game-guarantee total in school history.
ASU football scheduling news: Red Wolves will play at Alabama on Sept. 8, 2018. ASU will get $1.7 million for the game, a new school record.