The Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers will be defying a tradition that's been in place for over 50 years in Week 7 of the 2026 college football season.
The Crimson Tide won't be wearing their classic, all-white road uniforms in Saturday's top-25 SEC matchup at Neyland Stadium.
This year's Third Saturday in October clash featuring No. 6 Alabama (5-1 overall, 3-1 SEC) and No. 14 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) will see the Tide wear their home jerseys in Knoxville. The Volunteers will also wear their home jerseys.
For many fans, it will take some getting used to.
Alabama's road white uniforms pitted against the Vols' signature Tennessee Orange is one of the most classic, aesthetically pleasing looks any fall Saturday in Knoxville when the teams play.
So why the shift in tradition? It's because both teams once had a previous, longstanding tradition of wearing home jerseys for the rivalry.
While Alabama has worn white jerseys in Knoxville every year since 1972, that wasn't always the case. From 1928-1970, Alabama and Tennessee each wore home jerseys during every Third Saturday in October matchup.
As part of a two-year agreement announced in August, the Vols will don their orange jerseys when the rivalry shifts back to Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2027.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said of the agreement in August:
"This series is built on decades of tradition, and we're excited to bring back a piece of its history beginning this season. 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."
It's not the first time in the 21st century that the subject of Alabama and Tennessee's uniforms has come up.
In 2009, Tennessee asked permission to wear its home jerseys for that year's matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Lane Kiffin's lone season in Knoxville. Alabama refused the request.
For most fans, though, this year's Alabama-Tennessee clash will look a lot different on TV and in person.
Reminder: Tennessee and Alabama will both wear their home jersey's for this weekend’s Third Saturday in October game.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) October 13, 2026
First time since the 1970s. The agreement is in place for 2027, too.https://t.co/qjP7QC5Nb8 pic.twitter.com/nTZ5dXUDmK
The Third Saturday in full color is back. pic.twitter.com/Ioz1rgshEI
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 15, 2026
How often does Alabama football wear home jerseys for road games?
Not counting Alabama's trips to Baton Rouge to face LSU in even-numbered years, Saturday will mark the first time in nearly 20 years that Alabama will wear home jerseys for a true SEC road game.
The last time it happened was in Nick Saban's first season as Alabama's coach in 2007. In that year's SEC opener at Vanderbilt in Week 2, the Crimson Tide wore their home jerseys in Nashville after Vanderbilt received permission from the NCAA and SEC.
The only other time in the 21st century Alabama has worn its home jerseys for a true SEC road game outside of LSU was against South Carolina in 2005. The Crimson Tide defeated Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks, 37-14, in that game on Sept. 17 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Joel Klatt gives Alabama football vs. Tennessee score prediction
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) October 15, 2026
📸 David Leong, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/4T9WG8PFJP pic.twitter.com/UYmoJp1Mkq
When is kickoff for Alabama vs. Tennessee? Start time, TV channel, streaming
Kickoff for Alabama-Tennessee is 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. The game can be seen on ABC and stream on ESPN+. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will have the call of the game. Katie George will report from the sidelines.
Additionally, the Crimson Tide Sports Network feed of the game featuring Alabama radio voice Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts can be heard on SiriusXM channel 230 and The Varsity App.
The game can also be heard on ESPN Radio with Troy Clardy (play-by-play), Jordan Reid (color commentator) and Marilyn Payne (sideline reporter).
Alabama football schedule 2026
All times Central.
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina Pirates (W, 48-10)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky Wildcats (W, 45-17)
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State Seminoles (W, 50-36)
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (W, 49-18)
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State Bulldogs (W, 56-23)
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia Bulldogs (L, 20-17)
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee Volunteers, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M Aggies, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Nov. 7: at LSU Tigers, TBA
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt Commodores, TBA
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn Tigers, TBA
Record: 5-1, 3-1 SEC.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football bucks modern tradition ahead of Tennessee game
