Alabama and Tennessee revive 1970s uniform tradition for 2026 rivalry
The SEC and both athletic departments have agreed to restore the practice of both teams wearing their home colours, ending the standard road-team white rule for the fixture.
Alabama and Tennessee football have announced they will both wear their home uniforms for their 2026 rivalry match, a tradition not seen since 1970. The decision, made in conjunction with the Southeastern Conference (SEC), restores the practice of the Crimson Tide wearing crimson and the Vols wearing orange, rather than the road team wearing white. The game is scheduled for the third Saturday in October in Knoxville.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White and Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne issued statements supporting the restoration of the tradition. White noted that the "Third Saturday in October" stands alone in college football and expressed excitement at restoring one of its most iconic traditions. He acknowledged the shared commitment from Byrne and his staff to bring the experience back to fans of one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
Byrne added that the series is built on decades of tradition and that the schools were excited to bring back a piece of its history beginning this season. He highlighted that the change required collaboration from both schools and the SEC, expressing gratitude to the league office and Tennessee’s administration for their support in making the rivalry more enjoyable for teams and fans.
The 2026 game will mark the first time Tennessee has worn orange at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama's home stadium. This detail arises from the alternating venue schedule, which began after the teams played Alabama-designated home games at Birmingham's historic Legion Field through the 1997 season. Since then, the universities have alternated campuses each year.
The rivalry dates back to 1928, with the teams playing every season with the exception of 1943 due to World War II. Alabama holds a 60-40-7 edge in the all-time series, although Tennessee has won two of the last four matchups. The uniform agreement was announced on Wednesday, 19 August, in conjunction with the SEC.
The move replaces the standard college football practice where the road team wears white. By adopting home colours for both sides, the fixture aims to enhance the visual identity of the Crimson Tide and Vols for the upcoming fixture.
