Tennessee wearing Smokey Grey alternate against against New Mexico State

Tennessee Football will be back in an alternate uniform at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, wearing its 2025 Smokey Grey uniform on Homecoming against New Mexico State. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time on SEC Network.

The Vols (6-3) are coming off a bye week while the Aggies (3-6) lost 24-21 at home against Kennesaw State Saturday night.

The Volunteer Spirit#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/h32dM4OBW6

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 10, 2025

This season’s Smokey Grey look — the fourth alternate in the four-year Smokey Grey Series — pays homage to the United States Armed Forces during Tennessee’s Salute to Service weekend, with the new look designed in collaboration with the Tennessee Military Department, the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee and the Tennessee National Guard.

The traditional Smokey Grey helmet, with a black facemask and the Smoky Mountains silhouetted around the shell, this season features ‘The Davy Stripe’ on both sides of the orange helmet stripe, a tribute to Davy Crockett. 

The stripe, according to Tennessee, is “a modern take on Crockett’s famous, fringed uniform in grey, flanks the orange center stripe of the helmet and is prominently displayed on the sleeves of the jersey.”

‘Star Vols’ logo returns on Smokey Grey helmet this season

The “star Vols” logo also makes its return — for the first time since the turn of the century, according to the Vols — on the front bumper of the helmet. 

The 2025 uniform has ‘Volunteers’ across the chest, just above new stencil numbers, with the orange block numerals outlined in gray. The Davy Stripe is also used on the jersey sleeves, above Tennessee orange piping.

The two-tone grey used on the jersey and pants is “a combination resembles a similar look of steel forged from military artillery,”” according to Tennessee’s description: “Each stitch woven into the fabric of the uniform serves as a tribute to the state’s rich military heritage. Sharp, stencil numbers on the front, back and shoulders of the jersey, as well as the back of the helmet, are inspired by military standard font.”

Tennessee’s in-house creative agency worked with Nike to design uniforms

The “star Vols” logo is also on the pants — in a “military-inspired patch” — along with Tennessee orange piping on the pants stripe, as well as The Davy Strip seen on the helmet and the jersey’s shoulders.

Tennessee noted when it introduced the uniform in July that its in-house creative agency, “151 Creative”, worked alongside Tennessee’s equipment staff and Nike to create the uniform.

“One of the unique pieces of the project was the conception of a ‘Volunteer Spirit’ Tennessee Tri-Star logo as an homage to the 134th Air Refueling Wing. The creative team brought all of the elements to life during a content shoot in May thanks to the service members at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base.”