There are few bad Saturdays in the SEC when it comes to football season. It’s must-see week after must-see week. Saturday October 17 is no different. So, where are we headed for Week 7 on our season long SEC Bucket list road trip for 2026? Knoxville.
Week 7: Alabama at Tennessee
It’s one of the oldest rivalries in the SEC. It’s also one of the best. This is the first year that the SEC will play a nine game conference schedule, and one of the main games that the entire league schedule was built around was retaining the third Saturday in October. Alabama and Tennessee have played 108 times over the last 125 years. They’ll meet again in Week 7 this season in what will most likely be another great installment in this storied rivalry.
This is arguably the important game of the season for both teams. It won’t be the highest ranked opponent for either. It also won’t be the most anticipated considering Texas and LSU head to Knoxville as well, and Alabama hosts Georgia the week before. Still, this game could swing the season one of two ways for both teams. For Alabama this game is in the middle of the toughest stretch of their season. It’s a three game stretch that is preceded by a home game against Georgia and followed by a home game against Texas A&M. If Alabama has any chance of getting back to the CFP this season, they’ll most likely need to win two of three games in that series. For Tennessee this will be their seventh straight game (same as Alabama) and a must win considering they will most likely have a loss from Texas and finish with South Carolina, Texas A&M, and LSU in their next four games. That includes two games on the road.
It will feature two coaches who aren’t on hot seats, but also aren’t not on hot seats depending how the season plays out. It’s a fierce rivalry that was very one sided for a very long time, but since 2022 has been split two games apiece. It’s also a weird streaky series that has featured eight different streaks of at least four straight wins from one team in the last 60 years.
This one will also feature two first year starters at quarterback, and one of the best matchups between pass catchers and secondary in the entire country with Tennessee’s wideouts facing Alabama’s defensive backs. Get a victory cigar ready and don’t be surprised if there’s another field storming in Neyland. Either way you’re bound to hear “Dixieland Delight” regardless of which team wins.
