KNOXVILLE, TN – The Third Saturday in October is upon us.
No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) will welcome No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) into Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the first time since the Vols’ historic win over Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide in 2022.
Both Tennessee and Alabama have struggled in recent weeks but still have playoff chances alive with the expanded playoff format. Come Sunday morning, though, one team will be in a good position and the other will be much closer to elimination than a favorable spot.
There’s a ton on the line for this rivalry game – exactly as it should be.
Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) Season Results:
Game 1: Chattanooga (3) @ No. 15 Tennessee (69) – W
Game 2: No. 14 Tennessee (51) vs No. 24 NC State (10) – W
Game 3: Kent State (0) @ No. 7 Tennessee (71) – W
Game 4: No. 6 Tennessee (25) @ No. 15 Oklahoma (15) – W
Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee (14) @ Arkansas (19) – L
Game 6: Florida (17) @ No. 8 Tennessee (23) – W/OT
Follow along with Rocky Top Insider’s live thread covering the scoring plays and big moments from the game on Saturday:
CURRENT SCORE: 3rd Quarter – Tennessee 21, Alabama 17
Live tweets on X -> https://twitter.com/RockyTopInsider
More from RTI: Tennessee Fans Go Crazy During Vol Walk Before Alabama Game
Pregame
Inactive for Tennessee: S Jourdan Thomas, LB Edwin Spillman, LB Keenan Pili
Alabama won the toss and the Volunteers will kick to start the game.
First Quarter
Alabama Drive 1: Punt – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 3 plays, -10 yards
- TOP: 1:39
- Alabama’s offense suffers from an early penalty to stall the drive before it began.
Tennessee Drive 1: FUMBLE – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 4 plays, 43 yards
- TOP: 1:13
- Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson fumbles the ball after breaking off a nice run in Alabama territory
Alabama Drive 2: Punt – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 9 plays, 32 yards
- TOP: 3:39
- Alabama can’t get into Tennessee territory despite nine offensive plays, resulting in a punt
Tennessee Drive 2: Punt – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 3 plays, 0 yards
- TOP: 0:48
- Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava struggles early on hitting his receivers
Alabama Drive 3: INTERCEPTION – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 8 plays, 48 yards
- TOP: 3:59
- Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy records a one-handed interception on Jalen Milroe in the endzone to save a touchdown
Tennessee Drive 3: Missed Field Goal – UT 0, BAMA 0
- 6 plays, 11 yards
- TOP: 1:51
- Tennessee starts in excellent field position but the Vols can’t move the ball very far. Max Gilbert attempted the 53-yard field goal and had the leg on it but missed wide right.
Second Quarter
Alabama Drive 4: TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 8 plays, 64 yards
- TOP: 3:50
- Alabama’s drive extends on a 3rd and 12 penalty from Tennessee’s defense, sets up a five-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams for the score.
Tennessee Drive 4: Interception – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 5 plays, 28 yards
- TOP: 1:36
- Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is replaced by QB Gaston Moore after being shaken up during a play. Moore throws an interception on his first pass attempt.
Alabama Drive 5: Punt – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 3 plays, -9 yards
- TOP: 2:09
Tennessee Drive 5: INTERCEPTION – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 6 plays, 61 yards
- TOP: 1:53
- Tennessee records their third turnover of the first half. Iamaleava returns at quarterback and throws a pick in the red zone.
Alabama Drive 6: Punt – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 3 plays, 8 yards
- TOP: 1:24
- Alabama’s offense can’t get anything going with a very questionable call on third down. Punt away.
Tennessee Drive 6: Missed Field Goal – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 6 plays, 38 yards
- TOP: 1:46
- Max Gilbert’s kick from 50 yards is no good
Alabama Drive 7: Missed Field Goal – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 12 plays, 32 yards
- TOP: 3:32
- Alabama pushes well into Tennessee territory but comes up short on the 54-yard field goal.
Tennessee Drive 7: End of Half – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 1 play, -5 yards
- TOP: 0:34
- Tennessee ends the half after a sack on first down
HALFTIME – Alabama 7, Tennessee 0
Third Quarter
Tennessee Drive 8: Punt – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 6 plays, 12 yards
- TOP: 2:27
- Tennessee is unable to get much going after getting backed up by a penalty
Alabama Drive 8: Punt – BAMA 7, UT 0
- 8 plays, 42 yards
- TOP: 4:07
Tennessee Drive 9: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 7, BAMA 7
- 7 plays, 91 yards
- TOP: 1:54
- Dylan Sampson powers Tennessee down the field with two huge runs. Sampson then punches in the two-yard score for Tennessee’s first touchdown of the game
Alabama Drive 9: Field Goal Good – BAMA 10, UT 7
- 10 plays, 58 yards
- TOP: 3:21
- Alabama makes it to the Tennessee red zone but fails to put the ball in the endzone. Crimson Tide retake the lead with a 35-yard field goal.
Tennessee Drive 10: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 14, BAMA 7
- 5 plays, 75 yards
- TOP: 2:11
- Dylan Sampson punches in the 3-yard touchdown run after Iamaleava and Thornton connected on the 55-yard deep pass. Vols retake the lead in Knoxville.
Fourth Quarter
Alabama Drive 10: TOUCHDOWN – BAMA 17, UT 14
- 6 plays, 75 yards
- TOP: 2:04
- A seven-yard touchdown run from Justice Haynes puts Alabama back on top.
Tennessee Drive 11: Punt – BAMA 17, UT 14
- 10 plays, 24 yards
- TOP: 3:43
- Iamaleava and the offense get the ball into Alabama territory but the drive stalls out after a penalty. Tennessee pinned Alabama right next to the endzone on the punt from Jackson Ross.
Alabama Drive 11: Punt – BAMA 17, UT 14
- 3 plays, 4 yards
- TOP: 1:38
- Alabama can’t get anything going from the shadow of their own endzone. Vols defense stands up well.
Tennessee Drive 12: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 21, BAMA 17
- 7 plays, 54 yards
- TOP: 2:43
- Iamaleava connects with Brazzell for an impressive 16-yard touchdown score. Vols retake the lead in a big way.
Alabama Drive 12:
