Since Tennessee football flipped the script in 2022 and snapped its losing streak to Alabama, it’s been a back-and-forth afair with the home team winning each game. That means a 2-2 split over the past four years and a 1-1 series since Kalen DeBoer took over the Tide to replace Nick Saban.
Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard was asked to describe the series that has so much on the line at SEC Media Days. He picked a word that sums up the battle that takes place: “Bloodbath.”
“It’s an electric atmosphere every time we play, whether that’s in Knoxville or whether that’s in Tuscaloosa,” Hubbard said. “It’s always going to be a really, really good game. It’s always, I would say, a bloodbath. But it’s a good game. Obviously, it’s a big rivalry. I mean, this is what you come to Alabama for, is to play in big games like that.”
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This year, Tennessee and Alabama will meet in Neyland Stadium in the ‘Third Saturday in October’ time slot. Kickoff is scheduled for October 17, 2026, in the FLEX window with a TV designation yet to be determined. It will feature a young quarterback on both offenses, with both teams holding quarterback battles.
Overall, Alabama leads the series 61-40-7. This featured a win streak spanning from 2007-2021 against Phillip Fulmer, Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt and Josh Heupel. However, Heupel has yet to lose to the Tide inside Neyland Stadium, with this year’s game being played at home, as well.
The series isn’t going anywhere in the near future, either. Even after abolishing divisions and then turning to a nine-game SEC schedule, Tennessee and Alabama are paired up as annual rivals for at least the next four years.
