Alabama, Tennessee gearing up for what might be end of rivalry
The third Saturday in October is nearly here, meaning the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0 SEC) and Tennessee Volunteers (5-1, 2-1) are gearing up for the 106th edition of their rivalry.
While excitement is building for a matchup between two teams hoping to compete for a national championship, the uncertainty about conference realignment means it could also be their last game in Tuscaloosa, at least for a while.
With Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC next year, the league will grow to 16 teams, too many to keep the current system of playing every team in one's division each year and keeping one opponent from the other division as a year-in, year-out opponent.
Instead, Alabama coach Nick Saban indicated that the league seems likely to do away with divisions, rotating seven conference opponents and leaving only one program as a permanent opponent guaranteed to be on the schedule each season.
For Alabama, it's hard to see how that one fixed opponent would be anyone other than Auburn.
With the Tide and Volunteers not seeing each other except once every four years — and maybe only getting them at home once every eight years — there's a chance that less familiarity will breed less contempt for coaches, players and fans alike.
Frustratingly, the rivalry seems to be becoming more important and competitive just as it nears it likely end.
The two squads are ranked, Alabama at No. 11 and Tennessee at No. 17 in this week's AP poll, just as they were for last year's classic game. In 2022, Tennessee's 52-49 win on a late field goal ended a 15-year winning streak for the Tide.
Now, with only two guaranteed games left, both sides know this meeting at Bryant-Denny Stadium will linger for the fanbases. If Tennessee pulls out a win and ends Alabama's national title hopes for 2023, it's going to be brutal for the Tide faithful to have that be the result of Tennessee's last annual visit to Tuscaloosa.
But beyond this Saturday, one thing seems likely, as AL.com columnist Joseph Goodman noted: "For Alabama and Tennessee, the third Saturday in October could never be the same again."
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