The big day has finally arrived, as Tennessee football and Alabama are ready to go to war in Tuscaloosa. The Vols are nearly 10-point underdogs for this one, but that doesn't mean a damn thing once the two sides take the field for a primetime matchup.
Tennessee at Alabama odds suddenly change in a concerning way for the Vols
If anyone knows what this rivalry means to both programs, it's Nick Saban, without question one of the best coaches of all time. During College GameDay, Saban discussed what the rivalry means overall for college football and it's easy for everyone to agree with him. Despite Saban being an Alabama legend, even the Tennessee faithful will give him a hat tip for this statement:
Nick Saban says Alabama-Tennessee is the most underrated rivalry in college football 🔥
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 18, 2025
(📹: @CollegeGameDay) pic.twitter.com/uWuoO51pkp
Nick Saban said Tennessee vs. Alabama is one of the most underrated rivalries in college football
"I actually think that having been at Alabama, everyone always talks about the Iron Bowl, but really the big game for a lot of our fans and players was the Alabama-Tennessee game that's going to happen tonight," Saban said. "And it goes way back. The reason for that was Coach Bear Bryant and General Neyland were so successful that it was always a big game back in the late 50s and 60s."
We fully agree with Saban. Whenever Tennessee and Alabama face off, there's always plenty of intrigue and drama. The 2025 edition will feature more of the same, as Bama is ranked No. 6 in the country and the Vols are the No. 11 team in the land.
Ty Simpson has seen his Heisman Trophy odds skyrocket, while Joey Aguilar has surprised everyone with how great he's throwing the ball all over the field. This could prove to be a high-scoring game and fans are ready to see what these two powerhouses are made of.
Will Tennessee be able to pull off the upset? That's what everyone back home in Knoxville is hoping for, but it sure is not going to be easy. The Tennessee defense will need to do a 180 from what we've seen in previous weeks, while Aguilar will need the offense to keep humming. This should be a back-and-forth affair. Get your popcorn ready, Vols fans.