Alabama and Tennessee college football rivalry

The kickoff time for the ‘Third Saturday in October’ rivalry game between Alabama and Tennessee was announced for October 17 at Neyland Stadium. At the time of the announcement, Alabama held a 5-0 overall record, while Tennessee was ranked No. 15 with a 4-1 record. It was noted that both teams were expected to wear home jerseys, a tradition not seen since 1970.

As the matchup approached, ESPN’s Football Power Index gave Alabama a 71.2% chance of winning, citing their recent victories and uncertainty regarding the Tennessee quarterback situation. To highlight the cultural significance of the rivalry, country music star Riley Green and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning released a collaborative song featuring banter about Southern traditions.

Leading up to the game, the rankings for both teams have shifted, with No. 6 Alabama facing No. 14 Tennessee. Both programs now enter the contest with one loss on the season. Alabama is managing significant injury concerns, including wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. Tennessee continues to navigate uncertainty at quarterback, with George MacIntyre expected to start for a second consecutive week following an injury to freshman Faizon Brandon. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel noted that Alabama’s improved rushing attack and quarterback play would present a ‘massive defensive test’ for his squad.

Heading into the Saturday matchup, both teams hold 5-1 records. Alabama seeks to recover from a recent loss to Georgia, while Tennessee aims to strengthen its postseason standing. The game features Alabama’s red zone offense and turnover capabilities against Tennessee’s defense. Notably, both head coaches, Kalen DeBoer and Josh Heupel, are natives of South Dakota.