Could Alabama football lose annual 'Third Saturday in October' rivalry vs. Tennessee?

Yahoo

27-05-2025

Could Alabama football lose its annual "Third Saturday in October" rivalry with Tennessee? Without a specific SEC schedule format for the 2026 season and beyond, that question is still on the table.
While conversations around the number of SEC conference games mostly revolve around strength of schedule and non-conference matchups, another element could be the loss of secondary SEC rivalries like Alabama has with Tennessee.
Advertisement
In an interview May 27, Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne said the difference between the future of a yearly Alabama-Tennessee game could be in the number of conference games SEC teams play each year.
"In reality, when we went to as many teams as we have now in the SEC, one of those will probably suffer if we stay to eight," Byrne said. " If you go to nine, you have some more flexibility with what that looks like."
Alabama has played Tennessee each football season since 1944. It's a rivalry Byrne said that means "a lot to all the institutions involved."
"I wouldn't like to see it, but I also realize that things are going to continue to evolve and change," Byrne said. "It would be a sad time if that were to happen, but you also have to deal with reality."
Advertisement
Alabama will face Tennessee at home Oct. 18.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [e-mail] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Greg Byrne talks Alabama football vs. Tennessee rivalry future