The Alabama Crimson Tide have another tough challenge ahead against a top-25 team in Week 7 of the 2026 college football season. Alabama visits Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers in the latest chapter of the Third Saturday in October rivalry at Neyland Stadium.
Alabama (5-1 overall, 3-1 SEC) is No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after a 20-17 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) is No. 14 in the polls and is coming off a 24-17 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville.
Keelon Russell was held to 16 of 30 passing with 185 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Georgia but still gave Alabama a chance to win at the end. Russell leads the SEC in passing yards with 1,599 entering
Week 7. He has thrown 12 touchdowns to two interceptions and has added 225 rushing yards and four scores on 46 attempts.
George MacIntyre, playing in place of Faizon Brandon, made his first career start in Tennessee's win over Arkansas and was 18 of 29 with 247 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Brandon has been dealing with a shoulder injury suffered in the Vols' 20-17 loss to Texas on Sept. 26. He is listed as "questionable" for Saturday's game while Alabama's Ryan Coleman-Williams has been ruled out.
Behind DeSean Bishop, Tennessee's rushing attack has been potent. Bishop is second in the SEC in rushing yards (678). The Volunteers rank fifth in the SEC in total defense with an average of 293.7 yards allowed per game.
Will Alabama football beat Tennessee? ESPN's final score prediction
Ahead of Alabama-Tennessee, ESPN's Bill Connelly predicted the final score using his popular SP+ metrics. Connelly has the Crimson Tide winning by four points, which is less than the oddsmakers' 8.5 spread.
His final score prediction: Alabama 30, Tennessee 26.
Connelly gives the Crimson Tide a win probability of 59%.
Where Alabama football sits in ESPN SP+ rankings entering Week 7
Alabama is No. 8 in ESPN's SP+ team rankings, down two spots from last week.
The Crimson Tide have an overall rating of 23 (down from 26.7). Alabama is one spot below the Utah Utes (23.5) and one spot ahead of the LSU Tigers (21.7) in ESPN's team rankings.
To break down Alabama's rating by units, SP+ gives the Crimson Tide a 40 rating on offense (No. 5 nationally, down four spots from last week) and a 17.1 rating on defense, which is No. 16 nationally and down one spot from before the loss to Georgia. In special teams, Alabama is given a 0.1 rating, which ranks 60th nationally (up from 70th).
Tennessee is No. 15 in the SP+ team rankings with an overall rating of 16.7, one spot below the Nebraska Cornhuskers and one spot ahead of the Ole Miss Rebels. The metrics give the Vols a 34.9 rating on offense that's No. 21 nationally, an 18.5 rating on defense that's No. 23 in the nation, and a 0.3 rating in special teams (No. 10).
Tennessee fell two spots in the SP+ rankings after its win over Arkansas.
What are ESPN SP+ rankings?
According to Connelly, SP+ is "simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you're lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you're strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise."
"SP+ is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling -- no good predictive system does," he adds.
Alabama football vs. Tennessee: start time, channel for Week 7
Alabama football Week 7 opponent preview: Tennessee Volunteers
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) October 14, 2026
📸 Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/bvBnceZhr6 pic.twitter.com/dyJiWXnb3f
Kickoff for Alabama-Tennessee in Week 7 of the 2026 college football season is 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The game can be seen on ABC. 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.
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 overall, 3-1 SEC.
Contact us at @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: ESPN predicts the final score of Alabama football vs Tennessee
