Tennessee vs Alabama: kickoff time, TV channel and where to stream live
No. 14 Tennessee hosts No. 6 Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Oct. 17, 2026, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC.
The slot is the Third Saturday in October showdown, the long-running Southeastern Conference (SEC) rivalry between the Volunteers and the Crimson Tide, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Tennessee’s preview lists the venue as Neyland in Knoxville and ranks Tennessee at No. 14 in both major polls, with Alabama at No. 6 in the Associated Press poll and No. 7 in the Coaches poll, per UTS Sports. That is 2:30 p.m. local time in Knoxville, which sits in the Central time zone feed noted as 2:30 p.m. CT by Yahoo Sports.
On television, the game is on ABC. No cable login is needed for the broadcast itself if you have an aerial or a TV package that carries ABC.
For streaming, viewers have several live TV options that carry ABC. The game can be streamed live on DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV and ESPN Unlimited, according to The Hollywood Reporter. WatchESPN is also listed as a live streaming option by Yahoo Sports.
Two of those streamers offer a short free route into the game. DirecTV offers a five-day free trial, and Fubo offers a five-day free trial. ESPN Unlimited does not offer a free trial of its own, but it is included in DirecTV Signature packages.
The build-up in Knoxville is part of the programme. SEC Nation, the conference’s travelling pre-game show, is listed as live from Knoxville for the game. Tennessee and Alabama will also wear their home jerseys for their 2026-27 meetings, continuing a Third Saturday in October tradition confirmed before the season.
Both teams arrive at 5-1. Tennessee’s official schedule lists the Volunteers at five wins and one loss overall, with a 2-1 conference record, while Alabama’s official centre lists the Tide at 5-1. Tennessee’s run includes home wins over Furman 56-9, Kennesaw State 42-9 and Auburn 24-14, plus road wins at Georgia Tech 45-24 and at Arkansas 24-17, with the lone loss a 17-20 home defeat to top-ranked Texas.
For fans, this means a simple choice. Turn on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. Or open a live TV streaming app that carries ABC and check the free-trial terms before kickoff.
