The 10 games that define the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It’s been at least two decades, and arguably three, since the Third Saturday in October was engulfed by this much anticipation.
Alabama and Tennessee, two of the SEC’s most storied rivals who traditionally meet this weekend of the season, square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium in a top-10 matchup that marks the first time since 1989 that both teams have been unbeaten going into the game. For perspective, at that time Nick Saban was still an assistant coach in the NFL … with the Houston Oilers.
It hasn’t been much of a rivalry on the field lately, certainly not since Saban arrived at Alabama in 2007. The Crimson Tide have won 15 in a row, by an average margin of 25.9 points, and the Vols have been at least a two-touchdown underdog in every game going back to 2008, when Alabama was a 5-point favorite and left Neyland Stadium with a 29-9 win.
But this year, there’s genuine hope on Rocky Top that the Vols, fueled by one of the country’s most explosive offenses, may finally be the ones passing out victory cigars in a smoke-filled locker room, another tradition of a rivalry that was first contested in 1901.
Let’s take a look back at 10 of the most memorable (and defining) games in the rivalry as well as five worthy of honorable mention.
1. Tennessee 35, Alabama 28
Oct. 16, 1982, at Knoxville
The smile on former Tennessee coach John Majors’ face says it all in the iconic image of him being carried off the field by his players and leaning down to shake Bear Bryant’s hand. It was Bryant’s final game in the rivalry and one of the biggest upsets. The unranked Vols, who lost to Duke and Vanderbilt that season, snapped an 11-game losing streak against the No. 2 Tide. Chuck Coleman’s 34-yard touchdown run was the big blow offensively for Tennessee, and the Vols’ Mike Terry intercepted a pass in the end zone with 17 seconds remaining to preserve the win. It was bedlam at Neyland Stadium, as fans stormed the field and ripped down the goalposts within minutes.
2. Alabama 17, Tennessee 17
Oct. 16, 1993, at Birmingham
In the days before there was overtime in college football, No. 2 Alabama and No. 10 Tennessee played to a memorable 17-17 tie at Legion Field in Birmingham, snapping the Crimson Tide’s 28-game winning streak. The game felt more like a loss for the Vols, who turned the ball over five times, including a James Stewart fumble at the 1 when it looked like he was going in for a touchdown. With no timeouts, Alabama drove 83 yards in the final minutes and pulled within 17-15 on quarterback Jay Barker’s 1-yard plunge. David Palmer aka “Deuce” moved from receiver to quarterback on the 2-point conversion try and sprinted around the right end of the line and into the end zone to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining. The game was later forfeited to Tennessee because of NCAA sanctions levied against Alabama.
3. Alabama 25, Tennessee 0
Oct. 19, 1935, at Knoxville
Before he was a record-setting coach at Alabama, Bryant was a tough, hard-nosed left end for the Crimson Tide and played one of the best games of his career against the Vols. Both teams were down that year, but the Bryant legend was kindled in that game when he played despite having a cracked fibula that he suffered the week before. That same mental and physical toughness would go on to define his teams at Alabama. After the game, Bryant famously said, “It was one little bone.”
4. Tennessee 41, Alabama 14
Oct. 15, 1995, at Birmingham
Peyton Manning beat Alabama three times during his career, but none of those wins was more soothing for Tennessee fans than the 1995 blowout of the Tide. The Vols had gone nine straight years without beating Alabama. And on the first play from scrimmage, Manning hit Joey Kent on an 80-yard touchdown pass — “Play No. 1,” as legendary Voice of the Vols John Ward described it — and Tennessee never looked back. It was the Vols’ most lopsided win over Alabama since 1969, and Manning, who threw three touchdown passes, directed the Tennessee band after the game.
5. Alabama 9, Tennessee 6
Oct. 20, 1990, at Knoxville
The No. 3 Vols were riding high and a prohibitive favorite at home against an Alabama team that limped in at 2-3 in Gene Stallings’ first season as coach. Tennessee fans were eager for a celebration after four straight losses in the series. But Alabama’s defense had other ideas and shut down a Tennessee offense loaded with talent. The finish to the game was bonkers. With the game tied at 6-6, Tennessee lined up to try a 50-yard field goal with 1:35 to play, but it was blocked by Stacy Harrison, who came knifing up the middle. The ball ricocheted back 23 yards, all the way to the Tennessee 37, where Alabama recovered. A few plays later, Phillip Doyle drilled a 48-yard field goal to win it for the Tide.
6. Alabama 11, Tennessee 10
Oct. 15, 1966, at Knoxville
The “Snake” was a key part of some of Bryant’s best teams at Alabama before he went on to stardom with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Of course, the “Snake” was none other than Ken Stabler, who did a little bit of everything in leading a fourth-quarter rally in the rain to keep Alabama unbeaten. He scored the Tide’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run, then hit Wayne Cook with a 2-point conversion pass to pull Alabama within 10-8. Stabler then moved the Tide into field goal position in the final minutes. The holder on kicks, Stabler, was able to get a low snap in place on the muddy field, and Steve Davis knocked home a 17-yarder to put Alabama ahead. The Vols drove right back down the field. Gary Wright’s 19-yard field goal attempt from a tough angle appeared to sail over the top of the right goalpost, but his kick was ruled no good.
7. Alabama 12, Tennessee 10
Oct. 24, 2009, at Tuscaloosa
The biggest player on the field made the biggest play. Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody charged through the line to block Daniel Lincoln’s 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired, preserving the Tide’s win. Lane Kiffin was in his only season as Tennessee’s coach, and the Vols were huge underdogs. But they went toe-to-toe with the Tide, who went on to win Saban’s first national championship at Alabama. At their postgame handshake, Kiffin told Saban, “We’ll get you next year.” As it turned out, the next time Kiffin walked on the Alabama field, he did so as a Crimson Tide assistant coach.
8. Tennessee 16, Alabama 14
Oct. 19, 1985, at Birmingham
The “Sugar Vols” are one of the most beloved teams in Tennessee history. They went from unranked to start the season to winning the SEC championship and routing No. 2 Miami in the Sugar Bowl. The Vols didn’t lose again after upsetting No. 15 Alabama. Linebacker Dale Jones, now the defensive coordinator at Appalachian State, made a play that Tennessee fans will remember forever. With Alabama driving, Jones batted Mike Shula’s pass not far from the line of scrimmage and cradled the ball just before it hit the ground. Alabama still had one last shot, but Van Tiffin’s 61-yard field goal attempt was short.
9. Alabama 17, Tennessee 10
Oct. 21, 1972, at Knoxville
After No. 3 Alabama pulled within a point of No. 10 Tennessee on a Wilbur Jackson 2-yard touchdown run with 1:48 to play, Bryant was thinking about going for two points, but assistants Ken Donahue and Mal Moore (from the booth) and Pat Dye (from the sideline) convinced him to kick the extra point and tie the game. On the Vols’ ensuing possession, Mike DuBose, the Tide’s future head coach, forced a Condredge Holloway fumble that was recovered by John Mitchell. Alabama quarterback Terry Davis then raced 22 yards out of the wishbone for the winning touchdown. Alabama had integrated its football team the previous year, and Jackson and Mitchell were the Tide’s first Black players.
10. Tennessee 51, Alabama 43 (5 OT)
Oct. 25, 2003, at Tuscaloosa
The longest game in the series didn’t end until Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen tipped away Brodie Croyle’s fourth-down pass in the end zone in the fifth overtime. Tennessee had taken the lead on its possession in the fifth OT when quarterback Casey Clausen stretched out his left arm to reach the pylon for a 1-yard touchdown run. The Vols became the first visiting team to win three straight times at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Amazingly, it was a 6-3 game at halftime with Alabama leading, but things got wild after that in a back-and-forth marathon that took well over four hours to play.
Five more that just missed the cut
Tennessee 21, Alabama 0
Oct. 21, 1939, at Knoxville
Johnny Butler’s zigzagging 56-yard touchdown run against the Tide is still considered one of the greatest runs in Tennessee football history.
Alabama 34, Tennessee 3
Oct. 21, 1961, at Birmingham
This was Bryant’s first win over Tennessee as Alabama’s coach and the Tide’s first win over the Vols since 1954. Alabama went on to win Bryant’s first national championship that season.
Tennessee 20, Alabama 13
Oct. 26, 1996, at Knoxville
The No. 6 Vols rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to beat the No. 7 Tide. Jay Graham’s 79-yard touchdown run in the final minutes against the SEC’s top-ranked defense was the difference.
Alabama 41, Tennessee 17
Oct. 20, 2007, at Tuscaloosa
Saban set the tone for his dominance of Tennessee by kicking onside to start the game. The Tide recovered to set up a field goal and have never looked back. It’s the last time the Vols (a 1-point favorite) have been favored in this game.
Tennessee 24, Alabama 13
Oct. 21, 1967, at Birmingham
With Alabama driving and looking to take the lead, Tennessee’s Albert Dorsey intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards for the clinching touchdown in this battle of top-10 teams. Dorsey was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated the following week, and the Vols went on to win the SEC title.
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Greg Wyshynski
I fully admit that most of my 2024-25 NHL preseason predictions were a waste of pixels: a collection of bad calls, faulty logic and the bold prediction that the Buffalo Sabres would make the playoffs — which should qualify me for some sort of cognitive examination.
But I got something right: The two teams I predicted would battle in the Stanley Cup Final are part of the 2025 NHL postseason bracket. However, after 82 games of data, results and analysis, I’ve decided to punt on one of those picks while remaining ride-or-die on the other one — most likely to my detriment, given their current predicament.
Here is how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out, from the opening round through the last game of the Final. I apologize in advance for spoiling the next two months for you, as obviously all of this is going to happen exactly to script and none of these picks will be incorrect.
Let’s all enjoy the best postseason in sports together, no matter how it goes.
The 2024-25 NHL season is officially in the rearview mirror. Sixteen of the league’s teams have made the postseason bracket, and 16 have been eliminated.
Before the first-round series begins, ESPN’s experts have identified their picks for each matchup, along with the team that will win the Stanley Cup in June and the player who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP).
More: Full schedule
Megapreview
Lapsed fan’s guide
Betting intel
Contender flaws
Atlantic Division
Sean Allen: Maple Leafs in seven
Blake Bolden: Maple Leafs in six
John Buccigross: Maple Leafs in seven
Ryan Callahan: Maple Leafs in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Maple Leafs in five
Sachin Chandan: Senators in six
Meghan Chayka: Maple Leafs in five
Ryan S. Clark: Senators in seven
Linda Cohn: Maple Leafs in six
Rachel Doerrie: Maple Leafs in six
Ray Ferraro: Maple Leafs in seven
Emily Kaplan: Maple Leafs in six
Tim Kavanagh: Maple Leafs in five
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Maple Leafs in five
Steve Levy: Maple Leafs in six
Vince Masi: Senators in seven
Victoria Matiash: Maple Leafs in six
Sean McDonough: Senators in six
Mark Messier: Maple Leafs in six
Mike Monaco: Maple Leafs in five
Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs in six
Kristen Shilton: Maple Leafs in six
Bob Wischusen: Maple Leafs in six
Greg Wyshynski: Maple Leafs in five
Consensus prediction: Maple Leafs (20 of 24 picks)
Sean Allen: Panthers in six
Blake Bolden: Lightning in seven
John Buccigross: Lightning in seven
Ryan Callahan: Lightning in seven
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in six
Sachin Chandan: Lightning in five
Meghan Chayka: Lightning in six
Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
Linda Cohn: Lightning in six
Rachel Doerrie: Lightning in seven
Ray Ferraro: Lightning in six
Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in seven
Steve Levy: Panthers in seven
Vince Masi: Lightning in six
Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
Sean McDonough: Lightning in seven
Mark Messier: Lightning in seven
Mike Monaco: Lightning in six
Arda Öcal: Panthers in six
Kristen Shilton: Lightning in seven
Bob Wischusen: Lightning in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Lightning in seven
Consensus prediction: Lightning (18 of 24 picks)
Metropolitan Division
Sean Allen: Capitals in six
Blake Bolden: Canadiens in six
John Buccigross: Capitals in seven
Ryan Callahan: Capitals in five
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Capitals in five
Sachin Chandan: Capitals in five
Meghan Chayka: Capitals in five
Ryan S. Clark: Capitals in six
Linda Cohn: Capitals in six
Rachel Doerrie: Capitals in five
Ray Ferraro: Capitals in five
Emily Kaplan: Capitals in 6
Tim Kavanagh: Capitals in five
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Capitals in five
Steve Levy: Capitals in five
Vince Masi: Capitals in six
Victoria Matiash: Canadiens in seven
Sean McDonough: Canadiens in six
Mark Messier: Capitals in six
Mike Monaco: Capitals in six
Arda Öcal: Canadiens in seven
Kristen Shilton: Capitals in seven
Bob Wischusen: Canadiens in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Capitals in five
Consensus prediction: Capitals (20 of 24 picks)
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Sean Allen: Hurricanes in five
Blake Bolden: Devils in seven
John Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven
Ryan Callahan: Hurricanes in five
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes in six
Sachin Chandan: Devils in six
Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes in five
Ryan S. Clark: Hurricanes in seven
Linda Cohn: Devils in seven
Rachel Doerrie: Hurricanes in six
Ray Ferraro: Hurricanes in six
Emily Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Devils in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in six
Steve Levy: Devils in seven
Vince Masi: Hurricanes in seven
Victoria Matiash: Hurricanes in six
Sean McDonough: Hurricanes in seven
Mark Messier: Hurricanes in seven
Arda Öcal: Devils in six
Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes in four
Bob Wischusen: Hurricanes in six
Greg Wyshynski: Hurricanes in six
Consensus prediction: Hurricanes (17 of 23 picks)
Central Division
Sean Allen: Jets in five
Blake Bolden: Jets in six
John Buccigross: Jets in seven
Ryan Callahan: Jets in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Jets in five
Sachin Chandan: Jets in four
Meghan Chayka: Blues in six
Ryan S. Clark: Jets in seven
Linda Cohn: Jets in six
Rachel Doerrie: Blues in seven
Ray Ferraro: Jets in seven
Emily Kaplan: Jets in six
Tim Kavanagh: Jets in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Jets in six
Steve Levy: Jets in seven
Vince Masi: Jets in seven
Victoria Matiash: Jets in six
Sean McDonough: Jets in five
Mark Messier: Jets in six
Mike Monaco: Blues in seven
Arda Öcal: Blues in six
Kristen Shilton: Jets in six
Bob Wischusen: Jets in six
Greg Wyshynski: Jets in five
Consensus prediction: Jets (20 of 24 picks)
Sean Allen: Stars in seven
Blake Bolden: Avalanche in six
John Buccigross: Avalanche in seven
Ryan Callahan: Avalanche in seven
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche in seven
Sachin Chandan: Avalanche in six
Meghan Chayka: Avalanche in six
Ryan S. Clark: Stars in seven
Linda Cohn: Avalanche in six
Rachel Doerrie: Avalanche in six
Ray Ferraro: Avalanche in six
Emily Kaplan: Avalanche in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Stars in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in seven
Steve Levy: Avalanche in seven
Vince Masi: Avalanche in five
Victoria Matiash: Avalanche in six
Sean McDonough: Avalanche in six
Mark Messier: Avalanche in five
Mike Monaco: Avalanche in six
Arda Öcal: Avalanche in seven
Kristen Shilton: Avalanche in six
Bob Wischusen: Avalanche in six
Greg Wyshynski: Stars in seven
Consensus prediction: Avalanche (20 of 24 picks)
Pacific Division
Sean Allen: Wild in seven
Blake Bolden: Golden Knights in five
John Buccigross: Golden Knights in seven
Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Golden Knights in six
Sachin Chandan: Golden Knights in five
Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights in five
Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights in six
Linda Cohn: Golden Knights in six
Rachel Doerrie: Golden Knights in six
Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights in five
Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights in sixe
Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights in five
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights in five
Steve Levy: Golden Knights in five
Vince Masi: Golden Knights in six
Victoria Matiash: Golden Knights in six
Sean McDonough: Golden Knights in five
Mark Messier: Golden Knights in five
Mike Monaco: Golden Knights in six
Arda Öcal: Golden Knights in five
Kristen Shilton: Golden Knights in five
Bob Wischusen: Golden Knights in six
Greg Wyshynski: Golden Knights in five
Consensus prediction: Golden Knights (23 of 24 picks)
Sean Allen: Kings in six
Blake Bolden: Kings in seven
John Buccigross: Kings in seven
Ryan Callahan: Kings in six
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Oilers in seven
Sachin Chandan: Kings in seven
Meghan Chayka: Oilers in six
Ryan S. Clark: Oilers in seven
Linda Cohn: Kings in seven
Rachel Doerrie: Kings in seven
Ray Ferraro: Kings in seven
Emily Kaplan: Oilers in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Kings in five
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Kings in seven
Steve Levy: Kings in seven
Vince Masi: Oilers in seven
Victoria Matiash: Kings in six
Sean McDonough: Kings in seven
Mark Messier: Oilers in six
Mike Monaco: Oilers in six
Arda Öcal: Oilers in six
Kristen Shilton: Oilers in six
Bob Wischusen: Kings in seven
Greg Wyshynski: Oilers in six
Consensus prediction: Kings (14 of 24 picks)
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Mark Messier explains why the Kings are a different team this year and present a bigger challenge to the Oilers.
Stanley Cup
Sean Allen: Maple Leafs
John Buccigross: Avalanche
Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche
Sachin Chandan: Avalanche
Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights
Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights
Linda Cohn: Jets
Rachel Doerrie: Avalanche
Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights
Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights
Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights
Steve Levy: Golden Knights
Vince Masi: Lightning
Victoria Matiash: Jets
Sean McDonough: Golden Knights
Mark Messier: Oilers
Mike Monaco: Avalanche
Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs
Kristen Shilton: Avalanche
Bob Wischusen: Jets
Greg Wyshynski: Stars
Prediction breakdown: Golden Knights (9), Avalanche (6), Jets (3), Maple Leafs (2), Lightning (1), Oilers (1), Stars (1)
Conn Smythe (playoff MVP)
Sean Allen: Mitch Marner
John Buccigross: Brock Nelson
Ryan Callahan: Jack Eichel
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Cale Makar
Sachin Chandan: Nathan MacKinnon
Meghan Chayka: Jack Eichel
Ryan S. Clark: Jack Eichel
Linda Cohn: Connor Hellebuyck
Rachel Doerrie: Nathan MacKinnon
Ray Ferraro: Jack Eichel
Emily Kaplan: Jack Eichel
Tim Kavanagh: Jack Eichel
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Jack Eichel
Steve Levy: Jack Eichel
Vince Masi: Brayden Point
Victoria Matiash: Connor Hellebuyck
Sean McDonough: Jack Eichel
Mark Messier: Connor McDavid
Mike Monaco: Nathan McKinnon
Arda Öcal: William Nylander
Kristen Shilton: Nathan MacKinnon
Bob Wischusen: Connor Hellebuyck
Greg Wyshynski: Jake Oettinger
Prediction breakdown: Jack Eichel (10), Nathan MacKinnon (3), Connor Hellebuyck (3), Mitch Marner (1), Brock Nelson (1), Cale Makar (1), Brayden Point (1), Connor McDavid (1), William Nylander (1), Jake Oettinger (1)
The Edmonton Oilers on Saturday signed defenseman Ty Emberson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.3 million.
The Oilers, who will take on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, inserted 24-year-old Emberson into the lineup for 76 games this season, recording two goals and 13 point. He averaged 15:07 of ice time for the defending Western Conference champions.
Emberson has turned into a reliable force on Edmonton’s penalty-kill unit, and figures to maintain that role vs. the Kings. Emberson led all Edmonton defensemen in total short-handed time on ice (149:32) this season, while ranking second in hits (125).
The Kings will host Game 1 on Monday night at 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.
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