Netflix is set to honor college football legend Dennis Franchione, the iconic former head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, with a powerful new documentary titled Built by Franchione, premiering August 15, 2026. The announcement has already stirred deep nostalgia and renewed debate across the college football world about Franchione’s lasting impact on the game.
Produced by Netflix, the documentary dives into Franchione’s career with rare archival footage, never-before-heard locker room audio, and exclusive interviews with former players, assistant coaches, and national analysts. The film traces his journey from program builder to national figure, highlighting the principles and discipline that defined his coaching philosophy.
At the heart of Built by Franchione is his transformative tenure at Alabama during a turbulent period in program history. The documentary explores how Franchione helped stabilize the Crimson Tide when the program desperately needed structure, accountability, and belief. Former players recount how his emphasis on fundamentals, toughness, and unity laid groundwork that influenced Alabama’s return to national relevance.
Beyond Tuscaloosa, the film captures Franchione’s broader legacy as one of college football’s premier rebuild specialists. Known for taking struggling programs and reshaping their identity, he earned a reputation as a culture architect—someone who built teams from the inside out, long before “program culture” became a buzzword.
The documentary also doesn’t shy away from controversy. It addresses criticism, tough exits, and the pressure that comes with leading blue-blood programs. Rather than glossing over difficult chapters, Built by Franchione presents them as defining moments that shaped both the man and the coach, offering a balanced and human portrayal.
Ultimately, Built by Franchione is less about wins and losses and more about legacy. It tells the story of a coach whose influence stretched far beyond the scoreboard—into the lives he molded, the standards he set, and the programs he helped redefine. When it premieres this August, the film promises to reopen an important chapter of college football history and remind fans why Dennis Franchione remains one of the sport’s most consequential figures.
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