Three F-5 fighter jets are set to streak over Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday as No. 13 Alabama hosts Texas A&M for homecoming, and one of the pilots at the controls will be NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman himself. The flyover is scheduled before the Crimson Tide's 2:30 p.m. Central kickoff against the Aggies, a game that will air on ABC.
NASA confirmed the jets will pass over the stadium on Saturday, according to tide1009.com, which also reported that Isaacman is scheduled to pilot one of the three aircraft. Isaacman, who leads NASA as its 15th administrator according to the agency's own website, has made a habit of showing up in the cockpit rather than just behind a podium.
As WBMA reported, the flyover is intended to highlight NASA's work in aeronautics and aviation technology. The spectacle is timed to Alabama's homecoming matchup against Texas A&M at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a venue with a listed capacity of 101,821 according to 12thman.com.
A Rare Rivalry Renewal in Tuscaloosa
Saturday's game marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2023, and it's the first time the Aggies have played in Tuscaloosa since 2022, per the same game-notes release from 12thman.com. Alabama holds a commanding 13-3 edge in the all-time series, and the Crimson Tide are 5-1 at home against Texas A&M when the game is played in Tuscaloosa.
The flyover itself is part of something bigger than one Saturday in October. It's one stop on NASA's nationwide Inspiration Tour, which according to Yellowhammer News gives communities a closer look at the agency's work in aviation and space exploration. The outlet reports the Crimson Tide hosts the Aggies for its homecoming game on Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Central, with ABC carrying the broadcast.
Free Space Exhibit Open Before Kickoff
Fans don't need a ticket to get a taste of NASA's presence. Yellowhammer News notes that NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is supporting a NASA Experience Zone on Champions Lane, where visitors can meet team members and explore exhibits from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Central ahead of kickoff.
Families attending will be able to see an inflatable Space Launch System rocket alongside displays featuring the Starship and Blue Moon human landing systems, the outlet reports. The Experience Zone will also include information on NASA internship opportunities and photo opportunities, according to WVTM 13.
Isaacman himself is expected to make an appearance away from the cockpit before the jets ever take off. Per Rocket City Now, he will take part in a media opportunity at the Experience Zone at 11 a.m. CDT, giving fans a chance to see the administrator up close before he climbs into one of the three F-5s.
Part of a Broader Cross-Country Tour
The Tuscaloosa stop is one piece of a tour that Rocket City Now describes as connecting NASA with academic, industry and public sector leaders at stops across the country. The agency's Inspiration Tour is scheduled to wrap up November 7-8 with MAX POWER, a family-friendly event on and near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to Yellowhammer News.
NASA's F-5 jets have also made appearances elsewhere this year under a related banner. The Wings Over Houston Airshow notes that NASA's so-called Freedom 250 initiative, which has featured the same type of aircraft, is separate from government operations, with the planes and flights funded privately.
