Why Tennessee football, Alabama wearing orange and crimson for Third Saturday in October

Tennessee football and Alabama are bringing a throwback theme to the Third Saturday in October played in Knoxville this season.

Both the No. 14 Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) and No. 7 Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-1) will be wearing their traditional home uniforms when they take the field on Oct. 17 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in a tribute to the early decades of this rivalry.

A historic look.
The Third Saturday in full color 🔜 #GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/XJPPgD0HiT

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 14, 2026

Here's why the two teams agreed to wear their orange and crimson jerseys.

Why are Tennessee, Alabama wearing orange and crimson jerseys?

Tennessee and Alabama announced in August, with the SEC's approval, they had agreed to bring the tradition back for games played in 2026 and 2027.

“The Third Saturday in October stands alone in college football, and we are excited to restore one of its most iconic traditions as both teams wear their home jerseys,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a school release. “I’m grateful to Alabama AD Greg Byrne and his staff for their shared commitment to bringing this experience back to the fans of one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.”

Until 1971, both teams had worn their home uniforms for the Third Saturday in October, adding a splash of vibrant color to the heated rivalry. But the last 55 games in this series have been played with the road team wearing white jerseys.

"This series is built on decades of tradition, and we're excited to bring back a piece of its history beginning this season," Byrne said. "This required collaboration from both schools and the Southeastern Conference, We believe this will make an already special rivalry even more enjoyable for our teams and our fans."

What is the history behind the orange, crimson uniforms for Third Saturday in October?

The 2026 game will be the 109th meeting between Tennessee and Alabama. They’ve played every season since 1928 except for 1943 because of World War II.

Bright colors became a defining feature of the Third Saturday in October. The 1951 game was the first televised sporting event in SEC history on NBC. And the 1967 game was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The Vols and Crimson Tide last both wore their home uniforms in the same game on Oct. 17, 1970 a 24-0 win for Tennessee in Knoxville. The following season, the NCAA and SEC instituted a rule that the road team must wear white jerseys, ending the decades-long custom.

But the two schools were able to work with the SEC to revive the technicolor tradition. Since Alabama hosted it's home games vs. Tennessee at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama from 1932-97, the 2027 game will mark the first time that Tennessee wears orange jerseys in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Tennessee football, Alabama wearing orange and crimson for Third Saturday in October