No. 3 Alabama travels to No. 6 Tennessee to do battle on Saturday, Oct. 15 in an SEC showdown. The game will be live streamed on Paramount+ (free trial), fuboTV (free trial) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recognizes the enormous opportunity awaiting his sixth-ranked Volunteers only too well.
The No. 6 Volunteers host No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday, and it’s the first time since 1989 that both have been unbeaten going into the Third Saturday of October rivalry game. Tennessee (5-0, 2-0) is trying to crack college football’s elite for the first time since 2006, when the Vols last beat Alabama.
Alabama has been a regular atop the Southeastern Conference — not to mention winning six national titles — since hiring Nick Saban as head coach. He is 15-0 against Tennessee since then and he knows how crucial beating Tennessee is no matter the records.
That’s an understatement at least this season. The Vols are coming off a 40-13 win at LSU, while Alabama had to hold on to beat Texas A&M 24-20, a win that dropped the Tide two spots from the No. 1 ranking.
The Vols see themselves as the Crimson’s Tide’s biggest challenge though Heupel said: “The expectations we should be concerned about are our own expectations.” Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, now being mentioned in the Heisman Trophy conversation, said it’s a matter of “Just staying even-keeled.”
Quarterback Bryce Young missed Alabama’s win over Texas A&M with a sprained shoulder and was questionable at midweek. Redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe stepped in for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and delivered an uneven performance against the Aggies.
When is the Alabama-Tennessee game?
The game between Tennessee and Alabama is set for 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Will it be live streamed?
Paramount+
Paramount+, which offers a 7-day free trial, and features more than 20,000 episodes and movies from ViacomCBS family, which includes CBS, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and more.
There are two tiers to the streaming service. For $4.99 per month, you get limited commercials. For $9.99 per month, there are no commercials. Both tiers come with the 7-day free trial.
FuboTV
The game will be live streamed on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. The most basic of plans is the “fubo standard” package, which comprises 121-plus channels for $69.99 per month. Like all cord-cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream offers a free trial.
There are four options of DirecTV Stream:
The Entertainment Package, which consists of 65+ channels, is $54.99 until the promotion runs out April 30. It’s the basic package for can’t-miss entertainment – including ESPN, TNT, Nickelodeon and HGTV.
The Choice Package has more than 90 channels and is $74.99 during the promotion. The channels in ENTERTAINMENT, plus MLB Network, NBA TV, college sports networks, and more. Enjoy Regional Sports Networks with no additional fees.
The Ultimate Package has more than 130 channels and is $89.99 during the promotion. Everything in CHOICE, plus Oxygen, Golf Channel, NHL Network, Universal Kids and more.
The Premier Package has more than 140 channels and is $134.99 during the promotion. Everything in ULTIMATE, plus HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and more.
DirecTV Stream offers a free trial that doesn’t require much effort.
To sign up, enter a phone number, email address and credit card, and you’ll receive five days of the service without charge.
In addition, enhance your experience with the DirecTV Stream device. While it doesn’t include a free trial, it give you access to thousands of apps like Netflix and more on Google Play. You can search using the voice remote with Google Assistant, and you can enjoy a traditional live TV channel guide. It is sold separately.
What TV channel will broadcast the game?
The Alabama-Tennessee game will be broadcast on CBS.
Preview
QB SHOWDOWN: Young last played in the second quarter against Arkansas and will evaluated all week. If Young doesn’t play, Milroe ran for 83 yards against A&M.
That could give the edge at that position to Tennessee. Hooker has completed 70% of his passes for 1,432 yards and 10 touchdowns without throwing an interception running the nation’s top offense in yards and has passed Young in the midseason Heisman Trophy odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“He’s always a threat to run it too, which makes it more difficult, and they’ve got really good skill guys,” Saban said of Hooker. “And their entire offensive team is very efficient in how they operate and how they execute.”
HENRY’S RETURN: Tide linebacker Henry To’oTo’o is playing in this game for the fourth time and second since transferring from the Vols where he was a two-year starter. To’oTo’o had three tackles in two games against Alabama. He had five tackles in last season’s game for the Tide and now returns to Neyland Stadium on the opposite sideline.
“Definitely super excited,” To’oTo’o said. “So definitely going to be a huge challenge.”
VOLS PERSONNEL: Cedric Tillman, the Vols’ top returning wide receiver, missed the last two games after a high ankle sprain during a win over Akron. He had a “tightrope” surgery to speed up his recovery time and is expected to play against Alabama. Left tackle Gerald Mincey also is expected back after sitting out the LSU game with an undisclosed injury.
But the Vols have lost cornerback Warren Burrell to season-ending surgery for an upper body injury. Starting safety Jaylen McCollough may miss the game after being arrested on an aggravated assault charge last weekend.
TURNOVER PROBLEM: Alabama coaches regularly talk about the records of teams with various turnover margins. The more turnovers, the uglier the records.
Alabama is defying the odds — so far — despite being in a three-way tie for 115th nationally with a minus-5 turnover margin. North Texas (3-3) and Kent State (2-4) are the other two. Saban insists they’ve been emphasizing holding onto the ball “like crazy.”
“This is the first time in a long time we’ve had a negative turnover ratio at this point in a season,” Saban said. “We don’t get enough turnovers on defense, and we’ve given the ball up more than we have historically. And both of those things need to improve, because it is very, very challenging.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
