Alabama fan guide to Tide’s huge road game at Tennessee

We’ve got a big one brewing in Knoxville. After 15 straight years of misery, the Tennessee Volunteers look to snap a streak that’s lasted Nick Saban’s entire tenure as Alabama head coach.

The teams are ranked higher than they’ve ever been at the same time while playing each other in this “Third Saturday in October” rivalry.

The winners like to light up victory cigars, but the Vols have had little use for smoking stogies for the better part of two decades. A talented Tennessee offense looks to share it all up Saturday, and with Bryce Young’s status up in the air, anything is possible.

Here’s what you need to know about gameday in Knoxville this weekend, with helpful information from utsports.com.

VENUE: Neyland Stadium (Capacity: 102,455)

VOL WALK: 1:25 p.m.

GATES OPEN: 1:30 p.m. (all times eastern)

BAND MARCH: 1:50 p.m.

KICKOFF: 3:30

TV: CBS

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young scrambles during an SEC game against Tennessee on Oct. 23, 2021, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.AP Photo/Vasha Hunt

THE GAME!

Will Bryce Young play or not? That’s the driving narrative entering Saturday’s SEC showdown that could help make or break the national title hopes for each team. But Tide backup QB Jalen Milroe has proven he can produce electrifying results running and passing, but he must clean up his turnovers after three last week against Texas A&M.

Josh Heupel’s offense is dynamic and will give Bama’s defensive unit problems all four quarters, thanks to the play of quarterback Hendon Hooker. Can Will Anderson and Alabama’s cheetah package create a pass rush that causes enough problems in the pocket?

With both of ESPN’s morning shows in town, all eyes are on this rivalry, with many picking the underdog Vols to upset Alabama and finally end the streak in Knoxville. If that happens, expect a mushroom cloud of cigar smoke to hover from Neyland Stadium before the clock even hits zero.

ESPN at Alabama vs. LSU 2019 — Lee Corso (left) and Kirk Herbstreit. Behind the scenes during ESPN’s “College GameDay” and “SEC Nation” ahead of Alabama vs. LSU in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY

You know it’s a huge game when ESPN sends both weekly college football pregame shows to town, as they did when LSU visited Tuscaloosa in 2019.

This marks “College GameDay’s” second visit to Knoxville in four weeks and the 11th all-time visit to the UT campus (and somehow only the second time the show has coincided with the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry).

ESPN will set up on the lawn at Ayres Hall from 9 a.m. until noon eastern Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to show up to the lawn at Ayres Hall for live programming Friday. Live shots and taping for shows across the ESPN family of networks begin at 10:30 a.m. eastern. “The Pat McAfee Show” will air live on YouTube from 1-2 p.m., followed by College Football Live on ESPN2 from 3-3:30 p.m. On Saturday, access to the “College GameDay” fan zone — located immediately behind the set’s main stage — opens at 6:30 a.m. ET.

Rece Davis hosts the show in his eighth season and is joined by analysts Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, David Pollack and Pat McAfee. Reporters Jen Lada, Tennessee alum Gene Wojciechowski and newcomer Jess Sims, along with research producer Chris “The Bear” Fallica and college football insider Pete Thamel, round out the crew.

Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning will serve as guest picker.

Alabama Football Fans: Arkansas 2021 — (Left to right): Nick Saban, Laura Rutledge, Jordan Rodgers, Roman Harper and Paul Finebaum on set. Alabama football fans flock to the set of “SEC Nation” to see Nick Saban and more ahead of Arkansas kickoff Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

SEC NATION | MARTY & MCGEE | THE PAUL FINEBAUM SHOW

SEC Network’s weekly traveling pre-game show “SEC Nation” will broadclast live from the east ramp of Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday from 10 until noon eastern.

Laura Rutledge hosts the show (her sixth season in that role) and will be joined by Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers and Tim Tebow to break down the SEC landscape ahead of the action.

“Marty & McGee” also airs live Saturday from 9-10 a.m., as Marty Smith and Ryan McGee discuss latest headlines across the SEC.

“The Paul Finebaum Show” will also air live from the east ramp of Thompson-Boling Arena from 3-7 p.m.

TRULY’S TAILGATE

Located outside Gate 9 at 11:30 a.m., fans can stop by for a variety of food, drinks and additional restroom options. It closes at the end of the third quarter.

VOLUNTEER VILLAGE

Fans can visit Vol Village, which begins at noon. It’s free for all fans with or without a game ticket. Vol Village has live music, activities for everyone of all ages, food trucks, and more. It’s also located in a great spot to see the Vol Walk and the Band March just across from Circle Park.

VOL WALK

The football team’s walk to Neyland Stadium begins two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff (1:25 p.m. on Saturday) at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park on Volunteer Drive. It continues down Peyton Manning Pass before turning left on Phillip Fulmer Way and into the stadium through Gate 21-A.

BAND MARCH

The Pride of the Southland Band will make its way the stadium beginning 1 hour and 40 minutes before kickoff (1:50 p.m. on Saturday). The band marches up Volunteer Boulevard past Peyton Manning Pass and crosses the new Pedestrian Bridge before turning onto Middle Drive and then onto Phillip Fulmer Way, stopping to “Salute the Hill” before marching into the stadium through Gate 21-A.

WEATHER

Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 71, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 50.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 78, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 53.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy skies with a high near 72 and a 30 percent chance of rain, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 52 and a 50 percent chance of storms late.

— The National Weather Service

PARKING & TRAFFIC

Gameday parking for all lots surrounding Neyland Stadium is reserved for pass holders, according to the utsports.com. Read the official gameday parking map.

Additional public parking options are available in non-UT lots. Improperly parked vehicles or those found in a restricted area will be towed at the owner’s expense. Towed vehicles may be claimed by contacting Parking & Transit Services at (865) 974-6031 from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. to schedule a time to retrieve the vehicle.

Shuttles from parking lots to stadium area begin three hours prior to kickoff.

Stephenson Drive/Lot 14: Unload and pick up on Chamique Holdsclaw Drive
Ag Campus: Board buses at River Drive across from the CF lot; unload and pick up at Circle Park
Accessible/Lift Shuttle: Board at the Business Incubator Building at 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive; unload and pick up from the Student Union Loading Dock

Shuttles begin returning to parking areas with 10 minutes left in the third quarter until approximately one hour post-game.

Due to the Vol Walk and the band march, Volunteer Boulevard from east Andy Holt Avenue to Pat Head Summitt Street to Lake Loudoun Boulevard will close to vehicular traffic for approximately 30 minutes beginning five minutes before the scheduled start time for the Vol Walk. Parking permit holders for lots in this area should arrive two hours prior to kick-off in order to avoid traffic and pedestrian congestion. Three hours before kickoff, Phillip Fulmer Way will be closed from Middle Way Drive to Cumberland Avenue. Learn more about gameday traffic and parking.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

Tennessee operates with a clear bag policy and stadium security regulations limit fans to one clear plastic bag no larger than 12-inches-by-6-inches-by-12-inches or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person. Learn more.