Tennessee’s Oct. 17 showdown with Alabama now has a start time and a TV window, and the Third Saturday in October will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium.
The SEC announced Monday afternoon that the 108th all-time meeting between the Volunteers and Crimson Tide will be shown on ABC, ESPN, or SEC Network. It’s the latest chapter in one of college football’s most recognizable rivalries, with Tennessee and Alabama set to meet in Knoxville this time around.
The Vols and Tide have split their last four meetings, with each program protecting its home field twice. Alabama handled Joey Aguilar’s Tennessee team last season in Tuscaloosa, winning 37-20.
Tennessee Football confirmed the date and kickoff with a post on X, noting the game time, matchup, and venue.
This year’s meeting also carries a unique uniform wrinkle. Tennessee and Alabama will both wear their home uniforms for this game and next year’s game as part of a two-year agreement reached by the schools with the SEC. It will be the first time since 1970 that Tennessee’s orange and Alabama’s crimson meet on the field.
“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,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White said in a press release. “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.”
Both teams enter the stretch run with plenty still on the table. No.
15 Tennessee is 4-1 after wins over Furman, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, and Auburn. Before the Alabama game arrives, the Vols head to Fayetteville this weekend to face Arkansas.
No. 6 Alabama is unbeaten at 5-0, with victories over East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide will host Georgia this weekend in a major SEC matchup.
“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,” Tennessee HC Josh Heupel said in a press release.
Tennessee is 2-3 against Alabama in the Josh Heupel era and 1-1 against Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide. The Vols won in 2022 and 2024, while Alabama took the meetings in 2021, 2023, and 2025.
Before that October clash, Tennessee will play Arkansas (2-3) at 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
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