The game originally was not scheduled for TV coverage of any kind, which would have ended a string of Vol telecasts that has stretched to 158 games, dating to 1994. Tennessee worked out a deal, however, which will make the Mississippi State game available on a pay-per-view basis instead of the Vols' Nov. 3 home game with Louisiana-Lafayette.
Saturday's kickoff, as announced earlier, will be 1:30 Central (2:30 Eastern). Randy Smith will handle the play-by-play.
Cable systems throughout the state of Tennessee are scheduled to carry the telecast from the VideoSeat pay-per-view service. Fans may contact their local cable systems to order the game. The game also is likely to be made available to Tennessee Dish Network subscribers and DirecTV subscribers.
According to a UT release, the game will be blacked out on ESPN GamePlan in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi. ESPN GamePlan will offer the game to fans living outside the state of Tennessee via the ESPN GamePlan package.
UT-ALABAMA START TIME NOT YET SET
The Southeastern Conference has granted CBS-TV a third and final six-day selection for games on Oct. 20. CBS will televise either Tennessee’s game at Alabama or Florida’s visit to Kentucky. Lincoln Financial will carry the game not selected by CBS.
ESPN has selected Auburn at LSU for an 8 p.m. Central time start.