College GameDay hasn’t made it to Knoxville this season. But they will be on site for one of the biggest games of the regular season for Tennessee.
ESPN’s premier pregame show is headed to Tuscaloosa next week for the Vols’ primetime showdown against Alabama, the network announced Saturday.
Next stop: Tuscaloosa 🐘
Bring your best signs for Tennessee-Alabama! 🏀 pic.twitter.com/53EZn81lbB
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 24, 2024
The rivalry matchup could be one of the biggest in the history of the basketball rivalry. A week out from the game, No. 13 Alabama is atop the SEC standings with an 11-2 record while No. 5 Tennessee is in sole possession of second place and is just a game back at 10-3.
Both Tennessee and Alabama have challenging games in the next week. The Crimson Tide face Kentucky in Lexington on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Oxford to face Ole Miss in the midweek. Tennessee plays a pair of home games before traveling to Tuscaloosa. The Vols host Texas A&M on Saturday night before hosting No. 14 Auburn on Wednesday.
No matter how the standings look entering the matchup next Saturday, the rivalry matchup will have major repercussions on the regular season SEC Championship race.
Tennessee dominated the Crimson Tide in the first meeting between the two teams in Knoxville last month. The Vols never trailed and led by as many as 25 points before settling with a 91-71 blowout victory. Dalton Knecht led the way for Tennessee with 25 points while Jonas Aidoo added 19 points and Jahmai Mashack played strong defense on Alabama star Mark Sears.
“That was as dominating a performance somebody has put on us in a long time around here,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said following the loss.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Alabama is at 8 p.m. ET next Saturday. ESPN is broadcasting the game.
