Alabama and Tennessee will revive a long-standing tradition in 2026-27, with both universities agreeing to wear their “home” jersey for the annual “Third Saturday in October” pairing.This year’s contest on Oct. 17 inside Neyland Stadium will mark the first time since Oct. 17, 1970, that both teams will wear their home jerseys in Knoxville. When the Volunteers travel to Tuscaloosa in 2027, it will represent the first time UT has ever worn the orange tops inside Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The two teams played at Legion Field from 1932-97 with the last home-and-home matchup in Alabama occurring on Oct. 18, 1969, in Birmingham.“This series is built on decades of tradition, and we’re excited to bring back a piece of its history beginning this season,” said Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne in a press release. “This required collaboration from both schools and the Southeastern Conference, and I’m thankful to President Mohler, Tennessee’s administration, including AD Danny White, and the league office for their support and willingness to work together. We believe this will make an already special rivalry even more enjoyable for our teams and our fans.”The two-year arrangement was agreed on by both administrations and head coaches along with the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide will don crimson tops this season in Knoxville while the Volunteers will sport their orange jersey when UT visits Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2027.“The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is one of the most historic in all of college football,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said in the press release. “I know how much this game means to our fans, and the tradition and pageantry surrounding it is second to none. This will be another unique element that makes the ‘Third Saturday in October’ so special to both universities.”Playing an SEC schedule is never easy, but Alabama's Third Saturday in October Rivalry with Tennessee this season comes in the middle of a brutal stretch for the Crimson Tide. The road trip up to Knoxville is sandwiched in between home games with two of the teams that tied Alabama in the SEC standings and made appearances in the College Football Playoff with Georgia in Week 6 and Texas A&M in Week 8.Alabama won 15 games in a row over Tennessee from 2007 to 2021, but the Volunteers have won the last two matchups inside Neyland Stadium (including during Kalen DeBoer's first season in 2024.)Can the Crimson Tide reverse that trend this season when it travels to Tennessee on Oct. 17? A lot will happen between now and then, but here is an early look at what the Volunteers will look like in 2026.The GameDate: Oct. 17Time: TBD (Flex starting at either 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT or 5-7 p.m. CT)TV: TBDLocation: Neyland Stadium. Knoxville, TennesseeSeries history: Alabama leads, 60-40-7Last meeting: Alabama beat Tennessee 37-20 on Oct. 18, 2025. Ty Simpson threw for 253 yards with two touchdowns, but the highlight of the game was Zabien Brown's 99-yard intereption return for a touchdown as time expired at the end of the first half.Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads and Blue Sky for the latest news.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow