Alabama and Tennessee Are Bringing Back a Classic Uniform Tradition
The Third Saturday in October is getting a throwback look.
Alabama and Tennessee announced that they will bring back a long-standing rivalry tradition, with both teams wearing their home jerseys when they face each other in 2026 and 2027.
That means Alabama will wear its iconic crimson jersey at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026, while Tennessee will wear its orange jersey at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2027. The two-year agreement was coordinated by both schools, their head coaches and the SEC.
The 2026 matchup will mark the first time since Oct. 17, 1970 that Alabama and Tennessee have both worn their home jerseys in Knoxville.
The 2027 meeting will make even more history. When Tennessee travels to Tuscaloosa, the Volunteers will wear their orange jerseys inside Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time ever.
The uniform decision is a natural callback to the history behind the rivalry's famous nickname. Alabama and Tennessee first played on the traditional third Saturday in October in 1928, and the matchup continued on that date for 66 consecutive years through 1994. SEC scheduling changes ended the annual third-Saturday tradition in 1995, although the rivalry has continued to carry the name.
The rivalry itself dates back even further, with the programs first meeting in 1901. The teams have played every season since 1928 except 1943, when Tennessee did not field a team during World War II. The 2026 matchup will be the 109th meeting between the two programs.
Alabama currently leads the series 61-39-8 under the NCAA's historical accounting.
The Third Saturday in October, that's about as fitting as it gets.
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