Report: SEC 'expected to preserve' Alabama, Tennessee rivalry for 2024 season

Once Greg Sankey announced the SEC would have an eight-game schedule for the 2024 season, one of the first questions was how opponents would be determined. Sankey claimed one of the driving factors would be the preservation of the conference’s top rivalries. Now just a couple of hours ahead of the full reveal, a huge rivalry game reportedly is expected to be played.

According to John Brice of Football Scoop, the SEC is “expected to preserve” the Alabama and Tennessee rivalry in 2024. Dubbed the ‘Third Saturday in October’, the Crimson Tide and Volunteers have been cross-division opponents for the past few years.

Those in Tuscaloosa and Knoxville will be thankful the game is not being taken away from them — at least for the next two years.

“Several sources tell @FootballScoop that as the (SEC) prepares for its historic 2024 football schedule reveal this evening, the league is expected to preserve the ‘Third Saturday in October’ rivalry game between (Alabama) & (Tennessee),” Brice said.

We will see Alabama and Tennessee line up this season on Oct. 21, with a potential revenge game taking place. But as the continued future of the rivalry was in doubt, you can count on the 2024 matchup taking place — likely at Neyland Stadium.

For 2025 and beyond, everything will depend on how Commissioner Greg Sankey and the SEC decide to line up the schedule. Continuing with eight conference games would like mean every other year for Alabama and Tennessee.

Moving to nine would mean the ‘Third Saturday in October’ continues for as long as the mind can think of.

Alabama, Tennessee to keep long-standing tradition alive

Every season since 1928, Alabama and Tennessee have faced off against each other. Traditionally played on the Third Saturday in October, the date has become the rivalry’s nickname. This came matters a lot to both programs, even if both teams go on wild winning streaks.

Before the 2022 win for Tennessee, the Vols had lost every game played against head coach Nick Saban. Some absolute heartbreaks were in the 15-game losing streak while some straight-up blowouts were as well. In the 14 years prior to the 2007 season, Alabama was on the losing end in 11 of 14 different games.

The rivalry is certainly streaky.

Whichever team ends up on the winning end gets to smoke victory cigars in Bryant-Denny Stadium or Neyland Stadium. Players, coaches, and fans all enjoy the tradition, signifying a win in one of the most important games of the year.