Tennessee and Alabama are bringing back a piece of old-school rivalry flair this fall, and the setting fits the moment. When the Crimson Tide visit Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17, Alabama will be in its home crimson uniforms while Tennessee stays in its traditional orange at home, the SEC announced Wednesday.
The setup is part of a two-year agreement that also locks Tennessee into wearing orange in Tuscaloosa in 2027. It’s a throwback to how this matchup used to look before the tradition faded away in 1970, when the visiting team in the series began wearing white.
For years, fans on both sides have pushed for the return of the old look, but it never got done until now. Under the revived arrangement, Alabama would wear crimson helmets, white jerseys and white pants in Knoxville, while Tennessee would go with white helmets, white jerseys and either white or orange pants when the Vols head to Tuscaloosa.
“The Third Saturday in October stands alone in college football, and we are excited to restore one of its most iconic traditions as both teams wear their home jerseys,” said Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White. “I’m grateful to Alabama AD Greg Byrne and his staff for their shared commitment to bringing this experience back to the fans of one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.”
“The Third Saturday in October is special to our fans, players and VFLs, and bringing this tradition back adds another meaningful element to such a historic college football rivalry,” said Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel.
The game lands in its familiar spot on the calendar this year, with Tennessee and Alabama meeting on the Third Saturday in October. The Vols come in after playing at Arkansas the week before and hosting Auburn two weeks earlier. Alabama’s road trip to Knoxville is tucked into a brutal stretch of its own, with Georgia coming to Tuscaloosa the week before and Texas A&M waiting the week after.
That five-week run is a heavy one for the Crimson Tide, who will face Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU, with an open date between the Aggies and Tigers.
On the field, Alabama owns a 61-40-7 edge in the series, a lead fueled in part by 15 straight wins from 2007-21. Tennessee snapped its long skid with the unforgettable 52-49 win in 2022, and since then the home team has protected its turf: Alabama won in Tuscaloosa in 2023 and 2025, while Tennessee won in 2024.
Both programs enter the 2026 season with quarterback questions, but they’re still in the preseason AP Top 25. Alabama checks in at No. 13, with Tennessee at No. 20.
In Other News...
Tennessee Running Back Battle Just Got More Interesting After Closed Scrimmage
Tennessees closed intrasquad scrimmage at Neyland Stadium offered one of those early August snapshots that can shift the conversation around a position group. The Volunteers are still sorting out the running back picture behind starter DeSean Bishop, and Daune Morris helped make the case that he belongs in the mix with a burst that stood out during the workout.
Morris has also drawn attention because of the way Tennessee views his skill set. In a recent press conference, he and running backs coach DeRail Sims talked about his performance and his ability to do more than just carry the ball, a trait that can matter in a backfield where versatility often decides playing time. For a group still taking shape, Morris is making it harder to ignore the possibility that he can be used in a few different spots. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Rivalry Just Got A Tradition Vols Fans Will Love
The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is getting a familiar look back for the next two years, with both schools agreeing to wear their home jerseys in the matchup. Alabama will be in crimson at Neyland Stadium on October 17, and Tennessee will return the favor in Tuscaloosa next year, bringing back a tradition that adds a little extra weight to one of the SECs biggest annual games.
For Vols fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable, since it will be the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn home jerseys in Neyland Stadium. It is the kind of small but meaningful change that gives the rivalry a throwback feel, and it should make an already charged atmosphere look even sharper when the teams meet in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
College footballs quarterback competitions are still being sorted out across the country, and Tennessee is right in the middle of that familiar late-summer uncertainty. With preseason work continuing and no official starter named, the Volunteers have been watching a younger group push for position as coaches and analysts try to separate promise from readiness before the opener.
One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]