An SEC race full of talented teams continues to be a roller coaster ride and another important match in that race comes Saturday night. Tennessee and Alabama have both been far from perfect in league play but each teams think they could be among the very best in this league and have a great shot to prove it once again.
There’s some desperation for Tennessee (12-6) with the way things have gone in recent weeks. After a 7-0 start, the Volunteers look far from elite and recently dropped to just 2-3 in the SEC. They lost by double-digits in their first two road games at Arkansas and Florida and dropped a thriller late at home to Kentucky last weekend. Rick Barnes and his team desperately need to get back on track and avoid digging a bigger hole for themselves.
Things have gone better recently, but Alabama (13-5) still has plenty to prove this season. The Crimson Tide slipped up a few times against elite foes in the nonconference but themselves are just 3-2 in the SEC. They lost close battles to Vanderbilt and Texas, falling to the Longhorns at home, before a pair of road wins last week over Mississippi State and Oklahoma. Nate Oats’ team has shown that they can win away from home but can they be that consistent contender in this league?
Tennessee vs. Alabama: When and Where
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 8:30 pm ET
Location: Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tennessee vs. Alabama: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: ESPN
Streaming: FuboTV
Tennessee vs. Alabama: Betting Odds
Spread: Alabama Crimson Tide -3.5, Tennessee Volunteers +3.5
Moneyline: Alabama Crimson Tide -155, Tennessee Volunteers +135
Total: 166.5
Tennessee vs. Alabama: Series History
All-time series: Alabama leads 82-74
Last meeting: Tennessee 79, Alabama 76 (March 1, 2025)
Projected Starting Lineups
Tennessee Volunteers
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (18.6 ppg, 5.6 apg)
Nate Ament (15.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Jaylen Carey (9.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Felix Okpara (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Bishop Boswell (6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Alabama Crimson Tide
Labaron Philon Jr. (22.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Aden Holloway (17.7 ppg, 3.6 apg)
Amari Allen (11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Aiden Sherrell (10.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
London Jemison (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
The SEC is an uphill battle and both of these teams know that very well. Both Alabama and Tennessee have been in the national conversation in recent years, but neither is playing up to that level. The Volunteers have really come undone on the defensive end after years of elite play and will need to be at their best to slow down Alabama’s strong offense. Gillespie and Ament have been a reliable pair in Knoxville, but Tennessee might need someone else helping carry the load to keep up with the Crimson Tide. We’ll have to see if Philon is the star of the game or if Tennessee’s defense can contain him.
Does Tennessee avert these recent struggles and start to get their season back on track in Tuscaloosa? Can we see another strong performance from the Crimson Tide that could show us that Alabama is the real team to beat in this league?