No. 22 Tennessee Hosts No. 17 Alabama in 'Orange Out' Game

Vols look to bounce back from loss at Missouri as they welcome Crimson Tide to sold-out Food City Center

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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No. 22 Tennessee basketball hosts No. 17 Alabama on Saturday in a key SEC matchup at the sold-out Food City Center. The Vols are coming off a loss at Missouri and will be looking to get back on track against the surging Crimson Tide, who have won seven straight games. Tennessee is asking fans to wear orange for an 'Orange Out' game against their SEC rival.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for both teams as they jockey for position in the SEC standings. Tennessee is trying to bounce back from a tough loss, while Alabama has been on a roll lately. The 'Orange Out' atmosphere should provide an electric environment for this top-25 showdown.

The details

Tennessee (20-8, 10-5 SEC) is coming off a 73-69 loss at Missouri on Tuesday, snapping a four-game win streak. The Vols will be back home at the sold-out Food City Center to host Alabama (21-7, 11-4), which is riding a seven-game winning streak after beating Mississippi State 100-75 on Wednesday. Alabama has scored 100 or more points eight times this season and made 22 3-pointers in the win over Mississippi State.

  • The game is set for Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Tennessee will then hit the road to face South Carolina on Tuesday, March 3 before closing the regular season at home against Vanderbilt on March 7.

The players

Nate Ament

Tennessee guard who scored a season-high 29 points in the Vols' 79-73 win at Alabama on January 24.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Tennessee forward who added 24 points in the January win over Alabama.

Labaron Philon

Alabama guard who led the Crimson Tide with 26 points in the January loss to Tennessee.

Rick Barnes

Tennessee's head coach, who is 8-6 in his career against Alabama and has won five straight games against the Crimson Tide.

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What they’re saying

“We must come out with energy and focus against a very good Alabama team. The 'Orange Out' atmosphere will be electric, and we need our fans to bring that same intensity.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a higher seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins on March 13.

The takeaway

This top-25 matchup between Tennessee and Alabama has major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. The 'Orange Out' environment should provide an exciting backdrop for what promises to be a hard-fought battle between these SEC rivals.