Bama Central

No. 11 Tennessee Claims Third Saturday Victory Over No. 7 Alabama

The Tennessee Volunteers were able to mount three second half touchdown drives to win in Neyland Stadium.

Will Miller

Malachi Moore interception against Tennessee
Malachi Moore interception against Tennessee / Alabama Athletics
In this story:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The first half featured an unremarkable performance by both teams. Each side had at least one each of turnovers, missed field goals and failure to score off a turnover. The opening quarter was scoreless, and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw an interception in the end zone. Tennessee star Nico Iamaleava missed on multiple deep shots that could’ve resulted in scores. Milroe had 142 yards and a touchdown at the half, but those aspects of his line diminish the struggles he had in the game’s first 30 minutes.

The Volunteers tied the game up in the third quarter on a series of long rushing plays, including one of 36 yards for running back Dylan Sampson and one of 27 yards for Iamaleava. The running game gashed the Alabama defense during the quarter, but on the ensuing drive, the Crimson Tide snagged the lead back with a 35-yard field goal make by Graham Nicholson (the first made field goal try of the day on either side). However, on the next series, Iamaleava finally hit on a long pass. He found Dont’e Thornton Jr. for a 55-yard gain inside the Alabama 5-yard line, and Sampson ran it in from there. That gave the Volunteers a 14-10 advantage, the home team’s first lead of the day.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Alabama responded quickly with a six-play, 75-yard drive spanning just over two minutes. Running back Justice Haynes capped it off with a 75-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 17-14 edge with 13:56 to go.

Alabama was able to force a punt on Tennessee’s next possession but couldn’t move the ball, punting back to the Volunteers after just three plays. Tennessee kept fighting and responded with an eight-play, 54-yard drive with Chris Brazzell making a diving reception in the endzone to give the home team a 21-17 lead. 

The Crimson Tide had two more chances to drive the length of the field but incompletions, pressure and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on wide receiver Kendrick Law was too much to overcome. 

The Volunteers took over with 1:43 on the clock and forced Alabama to use its final three timeouts before Max Gilbert kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The Crimson Tide had one more shot at mounting a drive but Milroe threw an interception to Tennessee’s Will Brooks on the first snap of the series leading to the Volunteers kneeling out the clock and claiming a 21-17 victory. 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The day is here. The first iteration of the Third Saturday in October rivalry between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium since the 2022 thriller is here.

No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) escaped a home scare from unranked South Carolina last weekend, winning 27-25 to secure a tough rebound win from a big Oct. 5 upset against Vanderbilt. No. 11 Tennessee, meanwhile, needed overtime to beat rival Florida 23-17 in a home test.

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Fourth Quarter:

  • Jalen Milroe throws an interception on the first snap of Alabama's final drive and the Crimson Tide will see the Volunteers kneel the game out. Will Brooks got the interception for Tennessee on a ball thrown late.
  • Alabama has one more shot at staying alive. The Crimson Tide has the ball with 1:30 on the clock starting from their own 25-yard line.
  • The Volunteers took over with 1:43 on the clock and forced Alabama to use its final three timeouts before Max Gilbert kicked a 41-yard field goal.
  • Alabama running back Justice Haynes is tackled short of the line to gain and Tennessee takes over with 1:43 to play on the Crimson Tide end of the field.
  • Kendrick Law draws an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to put the Crimson Tide down to fourth-and-22.
  • At the two-minute timeout the Crimson Tide faces a third-and-one from its own 39-yard line with all three timeouts. Justice Haynes tightroped down the sidelines for a nine-yard reception to save a negative play.
  • The Crimson Tide will start the next drive from their own 30 yard line with 2:25 left to play trailing 21-17.
  • Alabama's defense is able to stop Tennessee on three straight plays. The Crimson Tide will get the ball back with the length of the field to travel to score a touchdown to win the game.
  • Alabama goes three-and-out after and inaccurate pass and a sack on third down forces a Crimson Tide punt.
  • Iamaleava finds Chris Brazzell II for a 16-yard touchdown. The catch was under review, but the call stands. No. 11 Tennessee 21, No. 7 Alabama 17. 5:52 to play.
  • On a big 3rd & 5, Iamaleava can't hit on another deep pass, but a defensive holding against Alabama extends the Volunteer drive. A couple of runs by Sampson have Tennessee setting up shop near the red zone. Under seven minutes to play.
  • Milroe is nearly sacked for a safety, but gets away and throws an incomplete pass. Three-and-out for Alabama after the strong punt. On comes Burnip to punt from his end zone, and the Volunteers will take over down three at their own 46. 8:35 to go.
  • Tennessee punts, and Alabama takes over on its own 4-yard line. Good special teams from the Volunteers with 10:13 to play in the game.
  • Alabama has failed to get off the field on third down on this drive. A 3rd & 10 option for Tennessee's third straight conversion was nearly a touchdown, until a shoestring tackle and then an offensive hold negates the gain. The Volunteers run the ball on the next third down and do not get it.
  • Iamaleava overshoots yet another open wideout on second down and short, then tries another deep ball a couple plays later that falls incomplete.
  • The Alabama scoring drive was six plays for 75 yards in two minutes and four seconds.
  • Milroe completes it to Germie Bernard to set up first-and-goal. The Crimson Tide is responding quickly, as Justice Haynes runs it in for a touchdown on the next play for seven yards. No. 7 Alabama 17, No. 11 Tennessee 14. 13:56 to go in the ball game.

Third Quarter:

  • End of three. Alabama has the ball around the midfield area following a facemask penalty from Tennessee, but the Volunteers lead 14-10.
  • Iamaleava finally hits on a long pass, connecting with Dont'e Thornton for 55 yards to the Alabama 3-yard line (on a third down, no less). Sampson runs it in on the next play to give Tennessee its first lead of the ball game. No. 11 Tennessee 14, No. 7 Alabama 10. 1:00, 3Q.
  • Milroe tries the corner of the end zone and comes up empty twice in a row, and Graham Nicholson connects on a 35-yard field goal for the first converted field goal attempt of the day on either side. No. 7 Alabama 10, Tennessee 7. 3:11 to go in the third quarter.
  • Tennessee's Jermod McCoy commits a pass interference foul of his own.
  • Jihaad Campbell commits pass interference in the end zone, setting Tennessee up at the 2-yard line. Dylan Sampson runs it in from that distance, and the point-after is good. No. 7 Alabama 7, No. 11 Tennessee 7. The Volunteers' run game gashed Alabama on that drive. 6:32 to go in the third quarter.
  • Nico Iamaleava makes some nice moves for a 27-yard run.
  • Tennessee gets a big gain from Dylan Sampson for 36 yards to the Alabama 38.
  • Red Morgan and Devonta Smith, both defensive backs, will be out for the remainder of the game, per CTSN.
  • Fourth down. Burnip punts to the Tennessee 9-yard line, where it's fair caught. At the very least, the Crimson Tide pins the Volunteers deep. 8:26 to go in the third.
  • Jaeden Roberts is down on Alabama's first drive of the half.
  • Tennessee punts on its opening drive of the second half. Alabama takes over on its own 6.5 (approximately) following two holding penalties.

Halftime- Alabama 7, Tennessee 0

  • Tennessee had 7 tackles for loss, including 3 sacks.
  • Between Milroe, Justice Haynes and Jam Miller, Alabama only averaged 1.5 yards per rush.
  • Alabama had the ball for over 20 minutes of the first half.
  • The Alabama defense forced three turnovers.
  • Alabama was called for 10 penalties in the first half.
  • Jalen Milroe completed just 56 percent of his passes in the first half.
First half- Alabama at Tennessee 2024
First half- Alabama at Tennessee 2024 / Will Miller

Second Quarter:

  • Iamaleava is sacked on the ensuing play, bringing the first half to its end. Following a somewhat ugly first 30 minutes, it's No. 7 Alabama 7, No. 11 Tennessee 0.
  • Three straight incompletions for Alabama after the conversion. The Crimson Tide opts to test the leg of Graham Nicholson on a 54-yard attempt, which falls short, and the score remains 7-0 Alabama. 34 seconds remain in the half.
  • On a 4th & 1 from the Tennessee 37, Milroe runs for it and is given the first. Tennessee doesn't agree, thinking its defense stopped the Crimson Tide QB. He didn't make it by much.
  • Alabama has accrued 10 first-half penalties.
  • At the two-minute timeout of the first half, it is still 7-0 Alabama. Neither team has played remarkably. The quarterbacks are both struggling, and Tennessee has missed a pair of field goals. The defenses, though, have largely been there when called on.
  • Tennessee opts to try another long field goal, this one from an even 50 yards, and Gilbert misses it badly. The Volunteers remain off the board with 4:06 to go in quarter two.
  • Alabama DB Keon Sabb, who featured on the availability reports throughout the week, has left the game after being down on the field.
  • The Crimson Tide goes three-and-out after the pick, throwing an incomplete pass on a 3rd & 2. Burnip's punt, a good one, sets Tennessee up at its own 30 with 5:52 in the opening half.
  • Another interception, this time by Iamaleava, who took a lick as he let that ball go. Jaylen Mbakwe with the pick. Turnovers have become a nightmare for the Vols today.
  • Nico Iamaleava is back in the game and completes a first-down pass on his first play back. Tennesse is going hurry-up.
  • Alabama incurs a holding penalty (on Kadyn Proctor) and then a delay of game. As such, on a play rendered as a 3rd & 19, Milroe throws it away just before being sacked, and is then called for intentional grounding. The Crimson Tide does nothing with the interception and punts it back to Tennessee... on 4th & 33. The punt goes into the end zone for a touchback with 9:09 left in the quarter.
  • Gaston Moore's first pass attempt is intercepted by Alabama's Malachi Moore. Moore returns it into Tennessee territory. The Volunteers' second turnover of the ball game.
  • Nico Iamaleava is down on the field. He appears to have hit his head on the turf while being tackled from behind. The play is ruled a sack, as his knee was down before he let the ball go. The backup quarterback is Gaston Moore, a UCF transfer.
  • Alabama's scoring drive was eight plays and 64 yards. It spanned three minutes and 50 seconds. A fade route was called for the touchdown- the same play Milroe got picked off on.
  • Touchdown Alabama. Ryan Williams catches a five-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe, and the Crimson Tide draws first blood on the Third Saturday in October. The extra point is good. No. 7 Alabama 7, No. 11 Tennessee 0. 13:01 to go in the first half.
  • Milroe's third-down pass is incomplete, but a flag comes in late and a pass interference call on Boo Carter extends the Alabama drive.
  • Alabama had 11:05 to Tennessee's 3:55 in terms of time of possession in the first quarter.

First Quarter:

  • The quarter ends with Alabama facind 3rd & 12 from its own 47. Through one, the score's knotted at No. 7 Alabama 0, No. 11 Tennessee 0.
  • Alabama gets a stop on third down in its own territory, bringing on a 53-yard field goal try from Max Gilbert. He misses it, keeping the game scoreless with 1:51 to play in the first. Alabama will start its next drive from its own 35.
  • Iamaleava overshoots another touchdown pass, this time with the ball landing ahead of Squirrel White, who'd gotten behind Red Morgan. Morgan comes up gimpy on the left leg. The ensuing pass on 3rd & 13 is incomplete, but a flag flies on Jaylen Mbakwe for pass interference to extend the drive.
  • Alabama gets down inside the opposing five-yard line, but Milroe throws an interception in the end zone to Jermod McCoy. McCoy brings it out all the way to the Alabama 46 with 3:42 remaining in quarter number one.
  • Iamaleava overthrows an open man on 3rd & 11. A play that might've been a touchdown if he hit on the pass. Domani Jackson was beat on the play. Instead, the Volunteers go three-and-out. Cole Adams returns the punt to around midfield.
  • On a third-and-long from midfield, Milroe's pass is incomplete. This crowd may well be affecting him. In any case, this is not the start to the game he was looking for. Tennessee takes the ball back after another James Burnip punt with 8:29 in the opening quarter.
  • Tennessee picks up an encroachment, halfing the distance on what was a 3rd & 10. Milroe responds with a pass to Ryan Williams into Tennessee territory with a nice catch by the freshman.
  • Milroe almost breaks loose on a designed quarterback run on 3rd & 1 from his own 27. A shoestring tackle by Will Brooks after just nine yards saved a touchdown.
  • Tennessee's first big play is a third-down completion from Nico Iamaleava to Bru McCoy to the Alabama 38. Alabama forces a fumble on the very next play and recovers the ball- the first turnover of the game. Jihaad Campbell recovers the fumble forced by Malachi Moore.
  • Tennessee will start its opening drive on its own 39.
  • Third-down pass from Milroe is incomplete, and Alabama's first drive ends in a three-and-out. The Crimson Tide never got rhythm on that first drive.
  • Alabama collects a false start penalty on its opening drive, then fumbles the ball but recovers it.
  • The game will start on ESPN2 until the conclusion of Miami-Louisville.
  • Alabama won the coin toss and elected to receive, meaning Tennessee will get the ball first out of halftime.

Pregame:

  • DB Keon Sabb and LB Yhonzae Pierre are in uniform.
  • Full team took the field for warmups with just under 40 minutes to go until kickoff.
  • Kalen DeBoer is wearing a short-sleeved crimson pullover. He wore a short-sleeved t-shirt for the last road game at Vanderbilt, a 40-35 loss.
  • Alabama safety Keon Sabb, who was listed as a game-time decision, appears to be participating in warmups without any limitations.
  • According to the in-stadium clock, this game between Alabama and Tennessee won't kick off until about 2:50 CT.
    • As expected, Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice are going through warmups with the other Crimson Tide wide receivers.
    • Alabama' specialists have taken the field for warmups along with some of the skill players on offense around 1:45.
    • Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who started his career at Alabama and ended it at Tennessee, is in attendance for the game and was seen chatting with Alabama RB coach Robert Gillespie.
    • Tennessee has opted for its traditional white-orange-white uniform combination. Alabama will be in red helmets, white jerseys and white pants, the program's trademark road apparel.

    How to Watch: No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee

    When: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2:30 p.m. CT

    Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

    TV: ABC

    Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to kickoff.

    SiriusXM: 82

    Series: Alabama leads 60-38-8 with the first matchup occurring on Nov. 28, 1901.

    Last meeting: Then-No. 11-ranked Alabama defeated Then-No. 16-ranked Tennessee 34-20 on Oct. 21, 2023, in what was then called Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide trailed 20-7 at halftime and then shut-out the Vols in the second half, scoring 27 unanswered points. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 14-of-21 attempts for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Jase McClellan logged 27 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell had the dagger scoop-and-score midway through the fourth quarter to create what became the final score.

    Last time out, Alabama: The No. 7 Crimson Tide survived a 27-25 thriller against South Carolina on Saturday, with the game coming down to a dramatic final drive. Trailing 27-19 in the fourth quarter, South Carolina closed the gap when quarterback LaNorris Sellers connected with wide receiver Nyck Harbor on a 31-yard touchdown pass. However, the Gamecocks failed to convert the critical two-point attempt. After recovering the onside kick, they had one final shot to win, but Sellers was intercepted in the end zone by Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson.

    Last time out, Tennessee: Like Alabama, the No. 8 Volunteers also went down to the wire with an unranked opponent but took down Florida 23-17 in overtime. Tennessee was down 3-0 at halftime, but running back Dylan Sampson dialed in and finished the game with 27 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns, with the final score of his coming in overtime to win.

    Published |Modified
    Will Miller
    WILL MILLER

    Will Miller is a senior at the University of Alabama. He has experience covering a wide array of Crimson Tide sports, including football, baseball, basketball, gymnastics and soccer. He joined BamaCentral in the spring of 2023 and is also a freelance UFC interviewer. 

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