The Third Saturday in October rivalry between Tennessee and Alabama will take place on the fourth Saturday in October in 2021 and that’s not the only unique thing about this season’s matchup.
The Tennessee game will serve as Alabama’s homecoming game for the first time in 91 years when the Vols travel to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 23.
The SEC’s two winningest programs will face off in week eight of the 2021 football season.
The game will be the eighth straight for Tennessee as the Vols’ lone bye week comes the last Saturday in October. The Vols will travel to Tuscaloosa following a two-game home stand against South Carolina and Ole Miss.
Alabama’s schedule follows similarly to Tennessee, with the Tide playing seven straight weeks prior to the matchup with Tennessee. The Crimson Tide’s bye week also comes on Oct. 30, the week before their matchup with LSU.
Prior to the Tennessee matchup, Alabama has back-to-back road trips to College Station and Starkeville.
Tennessee is looking to end a 14-game losing streak to Alabama this season. In the Vols’ last trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama won 35-13 but Tennessee played the Crimson Tide well. The Vols nearly cut Alabama’s lead to one possession in the fourth quarter before Jarrett Guarantano infamously called his own number on fourth down, leading to a 100-yard scoop and score for Alabama.
The Vols’ performance and the ensuing six-game winning streak proved to be the highlight of the Jeremy Pruitt era that ended in turmoil in January of this year.
Tennessee’s own homecoming game is set for Nov. 13 against SEC rival Georgia.
