The Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide meet in a Top 15 SEC matchup at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Both programs enter the game with 5-1 records, vying for a crucial victory to bolster their College Football Playoff resumes.
Tennessee Starts MacIntyre in Neyland Stadium Clash
Tennessee Football is reportedly set to start quarterback George MacIntyre against Alabama. MacIntyre made his first career start last weekend, leading the Volunteers to a 24-17 victory over Arkansas in Fayetteville. Tennessee opened its season with a 56-9 win against Furman, a 45-24 victory at Georgia Tech, a 42-9 win versus Kennesaw State, a 20-17 loss against Texas, and a 24-14 win against Auburn.
Alabama counters with sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell running the offense. Russell enters the contest ranking 11th nationally in passing yards and third in QBR, anchoring a Crimson Tide attack that comes to Knoxville as a 7.5-point favorite according to FanDuel and DraftKings odds. Alabama’s 5-1 campaign includes a 48-10 win against ECU, a 45-17 win at Kentucky, a 49-18 win against South Carolina, a 56-23 win at Mississippi State, and a 20-17 loss against Georgia.
Historic Uniform Agreement Returns to the Rivalry
For the first time since 1970, both Tennessee and Alabama will wear their respective home uniforms on the same field. The two historic programs established the agreement prior to the season and plan to repeat the tradition next year in Tuscaloosa.
Timeless.@DICKS | #GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/MejsJjPwOg
— https://x.com/Vol_Football/status/2110750709654155773
Saturday marks the 108th all-time meeting between the two rivals. Alabama holds a 60-40-7 lead in the series, though Tennessee has won two straight games over the Tide in Knoxville, and Alabama and Tennessee have two wins each over the last four seasons, with all four wins coming on the winner’s home field.
Game Time, Broadcast Channels, and Matchup Schedule
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
- Location: Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN
- Start Time: 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): Vol Network (FM 107.7) / Vol Network App
- Radio (SiriusXM): Channel 179 or 229
Game Day Timeline and Pregame Schedule
The Volunteers run through the T at 3:42 p.m. ahead of kickoff at 3:45 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchup
Who are the television announcers for the game?
Sean McDonough handles play-by-play duties, Greg McElroy serves as the analyst, and Katie George reports from the sideline for ABC.
Third Saturday in October. ✊ pic.twitter.com/nV90gDW3xH
— https://x.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/2109992559145808085
What are the recent game results between Tennessee and Alabama?
In the last five meetings, Alabama won 37-20 in Tuscaloosa in 2025, Tennessee won 24-17 in Knoxville in 2024, Alabama won 34-20 in Tuscaloosa in 2023, Tennessee won 52-49 in Knoxville in 2022, and Alabama won 52-24 in Tuscaloosa in 2021.
Which player is missing from Saturday’s game due to injury?
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is out for the contest with injury.