One of Josh Heupel’s biggest accomplishments as the Tennessee Vols’ head coach has been making the Third Saturday in October a competitive rivalry again.

From 2007 to 2021, the Vols beat the Alabama Crimson Tide zero times.

But over the last four years, Tennessee is 2-2 against Alabama (the Vols are 2-0 in Knoxville and 0-2 in Tuscaloosa).

The Vols dropped last season’s meeting in Bryant-Denny Stadium, so they’ll be out for revenge when Alabama visits Neyland Stadium on October 17.

Paul Finebaum gives Tennessee bulletin board material for matchup against Alabama

SEC Network talk show host Paul Finebaum, a Tennessee graduate, joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday and handed the Vols some fresh bulletin board material.

While discussing Alabama’s 2026 schedule, Finebaum pointed out that this is a favorable season for the Crimson Tide to play the Vols on the road.

“I think getting Tennessee on the road this year — you can’t get Tennessee on the road in a better year than this,” said Finebaum. “Because that program is really going through somewhat of a transition.”

There were definitely some big changes at Tennessee this offseason — the Vols have a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, and the program will have a new starting quarterback for the fourth straight season. But despite those changes, Heupel’s expectations for Tennessee haven’t changed.

“As a football team, we’re in a position to go compete to be in that playoff every year,” said Heupel last week during a Big Orange Caravan stop. “And that’s the standard. That’s the expectation. And we’re going to go chase championships day in and day out.”

The national view of Tennessee football may not be optimistic, but internally, the Vols believe they can win every game on their schedule.

It’s a good thing outcomes aren’t decided in April.