Alabama, Tennessee bringing back longstanding tradition last seen in 1970

Alabama and Tennessee will be playing for the 109th time this year. It is a Week 7 tilt between Alabama and Tennessee, as the rivalry, known as the Third Saturday in October, continues.

Now, the Crimson Tide and Volunteers will be reviving an old tradition this year, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN.

“Tennessee and Alabama will both wear their home jerseys for the games between the rivals in 2026 and 2027, per ESPN sources. This will mark the first time since 1970 that they wore Alabama crimson and Tennessee orange in the game, a longstanding tradition to that point,” Thamel posted on X, formerly Twitter. “The uniform agreement came together through the work of Alabama AD Greg Byrne, Tennessee AD Danny White, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and the SEC office. This year’s game is in Knoxville.”

The two schools are just 310 miles apart, and began facing each other in November 1901. Alabama leads the all-time series between the two schools 60-40-7. Tennessee’s 40 wins over Alabama are the most victories they have against any program.

Alabama dominated the series until recently. They won every matchup from 2007 through 2021. In 2022, Tennessee broke their losing streak, as number six Tennessee defeated number three Alabama at home, 52-49. Alabama would win again in 2023, but Tennessee won again in 2024, upsetting Alabama once again. Last year, Alabama took the victory 37-20. The road team has not won since 2020, when Alabama defeated Tennessee.

Alabama comes into the season ranked 13th in the AP Poll and opens its season on September 5 against East Carolina. Tennessee starts the year ranked 20th in the AP Poll and opens up the year on September 5 agaisnt Furman.

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