Tennessee football hosts Oklahoma in the first night game of the 2025 season at Neyland Stadium this Saturday night. The Vols are using the night game to break out its “dark mode” uniforms for the first time this season. The top 20 matchup is critical for the Vols to remain in contention for a playoff spot this year. It comes one week after the Vols notched a 56–34 shootout win over Kentucky. 

Both teams’ College Football Playoff hopes hinge on this game. Vols and Sooners are each 6-2 on the season. Tennessee is 3-2 in SEC play while Oklahoma is 2-2. With two losses each, Tennessee and Oklahoma must win out for a shot to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight season.

Kickoff between Tennessee and Oklahoma is at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday night. ABC is broadcasting the game.

Tennessee first wore the “dark mode” uniforms back in Josh Heupel’s first season as head coach; the Vols are 4-1 while wearing them. They beat South Carolina but lost to Georgia wearing them in 2021, beat Kentucky in both 2022 and 2024 wearing them while adding another win against South Carolina in them during the 2023 season. Coming one day after Halloween makes the black and orange combo a perfect look. The stands are likely to be filled with costumed fans along with those clad in black.

Steve Gill is the editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.