Tennessee beat Alabama last year for the first time since 2006, and Volunteers fans are definitely still holding onto that feeling heading into Saturday’s showdown.
Tennessee alum Peyton Manning expressed his feelings on this year's matchup while speaking on Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show. Last year’s win seemed to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback forget about all the previous 15 losses in a row.
“It’s funny, I mean I can’t think of the last time Alabama’s beaten us,” Manning jokingly said. “We obviously took care of business last year. The series has been so one-sided since 2022. So I’m gonna tune in Saturday, but I think I kind of know what’s going to happen. We’ve kinda had our way with them since 2022.”
Manning's preview of the game starts at the 2:29:00 mark in the video below.
Aside from his cheeky prediction, Manning seriously thinks it’ll be a close game this year as Alabama will be wanting some revenge after losing in 2022.
“Gah-lee, it’s going to be a dogfight,” Manning said. “I mean Nick Saban, for some reason, I think he remembers that game from last year. He remembers the pictures of the cigars. I was having one, as well in the locker room. It had been a long time since we had had a chance to do that. I know coach Saban’s going to have those guys ready.”
The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 21.
During Manning’s career at Tennessee from 1994–1997, the Volunteers won three out of four contests against Alabama.
