The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Third Saturday in October

Tennessee40-61-7Alabama
Power Program II#19 of 138–Blue Blood#1 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
4 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Alabama leads the all-time series 61-40-7. They've met 108 times since 1903. Alabama once took 15 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Tennessee
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -26
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Tennessee's defense ranks among the nation's best
Tennessee defense is elite for sure hope we stay healthy on defense
Verified verbatim
Alabama
Win total
9.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -23
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue Josh Ford elevates Alabama's playmaking ability
oh no Josh Ford to me game changer for Alabama doesn't mean with our depth we won't win but Ford has an impact on game ! Roll Tide
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1903–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeTennesseeAlabamaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Tennessee won, gray: Alabama won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Tennessee was the more pass-heavy program — then Alabama took it over.

Tennessee threw it more in 12 of 14 seasons, 2004–2017. Since 2018, Alabama has led 8 of 9. Real exceptions: 2013, 2015, 2023.

more passmore runTennesseeAlabama2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262018Alabama 1.9 ptsAlabama won 58-212023Tennessee 9.0 ptsAlabama won 34-202015Alabama 3.4 ptsAlabama won 19-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Alabama by 51 in 1906. The biggest crowd, 107,722, was in 2002.

The coaching duels

Bill Battle vs Bear Bryant1-6
Bob Neyland vs Frank Thomas4-1-1
Bob Neyland vs Red Drew4-1-1
Doug Dickey vs Bear Bryant3-2-1
Johnny Majors vs Bear Bryant1-5
Bowden Wyatt vs Bear Bryant2-2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
203-266
Alabama leads
1st-rounders
40-76
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
TennesseeAlabama
1960s8-5
1970s18-22
1980s26-28
1990s46-30
2000s54-35
2010s25-83
2020s26-63

Best picks, either side

1998Peyton Manning Quarterback · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2023Bryce Young Quarterback · Carolina PanthersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1968Bob Johnson Center · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1987Cornelius Bennett Linebacker · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1994Heath Shuler Quarterback · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2019Quinnen Williams Defensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2023Will Anderson Jr. Outside Linebacker · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2000Chris Samuels Offensive Tackle · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Alabama1.06×its own average home crowd

Alabama already plays close to its own attendance ceiling in non-rivalry home games, so this number understates how much bigger this game draws relative to a program with more room to grow into a crowd.

2026Tennessee26-10Alabama — both ranked, Alabama routed by 16
2025Alabama37-20
2024Tennessee24-17
2023Alabama34-20
2022Tennessee52-49Alabama — both ranked, decided by 3
2021Alabama52-24
2020Alabama48-17
2019Alabama35-13
2018Alabama58-21
2017Alabama45-7
2016Alabama49-10Tennessee — both ranked
2015Alabama19-14
2014Alabama34-20
2013Alabama45-10

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Tennessee’s chance to win through that meeting. Tennessee is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2024: firestorm.

2026Tennessee 26-10Tennessee won 26-10 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 41%, low 39%, high better than 99%.Loud
2025Alabama 37-20Tennessee lost 20-37 at Alabama. Chance to win started at 22%, low under 1%, high 36%.Loud
2024Tennessee 24-17Tennessee won 24-17 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 39%, low 9%, high 97%.Firestorm
2023Alabama 34-20Tennessee lost 20-34 at Alabama. Chance to win started at 31%, low under 1%, high 98%.Loud
2022Tennessee 52-49Tennessee won 52-49 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 30%, low 9%, high better than 99%.Firestorm
2021Alabama 52-24Tennessee lost 24-52 at Alabama. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 23%.
2020Alabama 48-17Tennessee lost 17-48 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 9%, low under 1%, high 13%.
2019Alabama 35-13Tennessee lost 13-35 at Alabama. Chance to win started at 1%, low under 1%, high 4%.
2018Alabama 58-21Tennessee lost 21-58 vs Alabama. Chance to win started at 4%, low under 1%, high 5%.
“Maybe Bama should have gotten ready for the run instead of standing over the ball.”
A Tennessee fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “I love how we’ve been begging for a QB that will pass, and now that we’ve finally got that, everyone has forgot how to catch.”
    A Tennessee fan
  • 2025
    “Being interviewed right after that must be tough”
    An Alabama fan

This season’s plays, Tennessee and Alabama

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 10 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q3, 5:05 · Tennessee up 2DeSean Bishop runs 5 yards for a touchdownAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q3, 5:05 · Tennessee 19, Alabama 10▲22%Tennessee’s chance to win, 57% to 79%▲22%Tennessee’s chance to win, 57% to 79%D.Bishop rush middle for 5 yards gain to the BAMA00 touchdown. The previous play is under automatic review - "Runner broke the plane". CALL UPHELD, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football
  2. Q1, 3:11 · Alabama down 9Dejuan Lane intercepts Keelon RussellAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q1, 3:11 · Alabama 0, Tennessee 9▲8%Alabama’s chance to win, 24% to 32%▲8%Alabama’s chance to win, 24% to 32%K.Russell pass intercepted by D.Lane at BAMA43, End Of PlayWatch from this playESPN College Football
  3. Q2, 4:04 · Alabama down 5Alabama fumbles and Tennessee recoversAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q2, 4:04 · Alabama 7, Tennessee 12▲6%Alabama’s chance to win, 41% to 47%▲6%Alabama’s chance to win, 41% to 47%A.Asparuhov punt 46 yards to the TENN23 Tennessee return 0 yards to the TENN23 fumbled by Tennessee at TENN23 recovered by BAMA L.Metz at TENN23, End Of PlayWatch from this playESPN College Football
  4. Q2, 10:13 · Alabama down 9Keelon Russell runs 19 yards for a touchdownAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q2, 10:13 · Alabama 7, Tennessee 9▲5%Alabama’s chance to win, 40% to 45%▲5%Alabama’s chance to win, 40% to 45%K.Russell rush middle for 19 yards gain to the TENN00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football
  5. Q2, 1:53 · Alabama down 5D. Hill fumbles and Tennessee recoversAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q2, 1:53 · Alabama 7, Tennessee 12Alabama turned it over in the red zoneAlabama turned it over in the red zoneD.Hill rush middle for 3 yards gain to the TENN11 fumbled by D.Hill at TENN13 recovered by TENN D.Lane at TENN11, End Of PlayWatch from this playESPN College Football
  6. Q2, 0:30 · Alabama down 5Tyree Weathersby sacks Keelon Russell for a 10-yard lossAlabama at Tennessee, week 7Q2, 0:30 · Alabama 7, Tennessee 12▼4%Alabama’s chance to win, 42% to 38%▼4%Alabama’s chance to win, 42% to 38%K.Russell sacked for loss of 10 yards to the BAMA46 (T.Weathersby)Watch from this playESPN College Football

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.