It’s tough to find a better college football rivalry than the Third Saturday in October. With Josh Heupel bringing Tennessee football back to national prominence, the matchups with Alabama have been terrific and are starting to once again go back and forth.
Ahead of the 2025 clash in Tuscaloosa on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., airing on ABC, Alabama Athletics has released the ‘official logo for one of college football’s most iconic rivalries.’ The Tide posted the graphic on its X account on Sunday as full preparation on both sides begins.
“Third Saturday in October. Great historical game, rivalry game and I know it’ll be a great environment against a great football team and looking forward to it,” Vols head coach Josh Heupel said on Monday. “Got to go do a great job in our preparation. You look at how they’re playing offensively, defensively, special teams, playing at a really high level right now. Quarterback, playmakers out on the outside offensively for them. And defensively done a great job throughout the last few weeks here. Pass defense is one of the top in the country. Their front seven is big, strong, physical and athletic. So it will be a great test. And again, this is why you come to Tennessee to play in a game like this, a great rivalry game with Alabama.”
History runs deep on the Third Saturday in October.
Introducing the official logo for one of college football’s most iconic rivalries. See you Saturday!#RollTide | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/LYqWIpGwF9
— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) October 12, 2025
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All-time, Tennessee is 40-60-7 all-time in the rivalry. On the road, the Vols are 18-32-6.
So far, Heupel is 2-2 against Alabama, but has never won in Tuscaloosa. In 2021, his team stuck around early in his first year, but Nick Saban’s squad pulled away late. In 2023, Saban’s final season, the Vols took an early lead but forfeited it in the second half.
At home, Heupel is 2-0. He won in a shootout in 2022 and behind a strong defense in 2024. The win a year ago makes him 1-0 against Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.
Tennessee’s test this year will be in stopping a Crimson Tide offense that’s rolling. Ty Simpson seems to be hitting his stride at quarterback with a trio of elite receivers. The run game is also off to a strong start, but it remains to be seen if star back Jam Miller will be good to go.
With both teams coming off hard-fought SEC wins, Vegas has slightly adjusted the spread. The Vols are now 8.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel. FanDuel listed 88% of the money and 79% of bets being placed on the Vols’ covering as of Sunday. So far, the Vols have covered in three out of five games while the Tide have in four of five.
