Tennessee football played outstanding defense and overpowered rival Alabama for a 26-10 win in a deafening Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17.
As the final seconds ticked down, fans stormed the field and lit their victory cigars to join their 14th-ranked Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) in celebrating this latest chapter of the Third Saturday in October rivalry.
No. 7 Alabama (5-2, 3-2) never led, and UT never let up.
Tennessee won its third straight home game over Alabama. The Vols beat the Tide with Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt in 2022. They won it with defense and a ground game in 2024. And they won it this one with dominant defense and a second-half surge.
UT coach Josh Heupel now has 3-3 record against Alabama (3-0 at home), beating Nick Saban once and Kalen DeBoer
twice. It is UT’s best stretch in the rivalry since winning three of four games in 2003-06.
Tennessee plays South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) on Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or SEC Network) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
Here are six takeaways from the Vols’ game against Alabama.
Tennessee football vs. Alabama takeaways
Tennessee defense carried the day, smothered Alabama
Tennessee’s defense dominated the game in every way possible against an Alabama offense that ranked third in scoring in the nation (44.2 ppg).
The Vols contained Alabama’s playmakers, flipped field position, got fourth-down stops and forced a season-high four turnovers. The Vols have now held all four opponents in SEC play to 20 points or loss.
UT’s defense had a superb start. Alabama lost a net of 19 yards on its first three possessions and committed two turnovers. Jeremiah Telander forced a fumble on strip sack, and Tyree Weathersby recovered it. Then Dejuan Lane intercepted a Keelon Russell pass.
Lane later recovered a fumble at UT’s 11-yard line to prevent a potential Alabama score in the Tide's first failed red-zone trip this season. And Kayin Lee sealed the win with an interception in the end zone in the final minute.
DeSean Bishop cracked top five with key touchdowns
DeSean Bishop, a former Karns High standout, ran hard into the teeth of the Alabama defense and kept UT drives alive. He rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
Bishop moved into fifth place on UT’s career list with 29 rushing TDs. Gene McEver owns the UT record with 37 rushing TDs from 1928-31. Dylan Sampson (2022-24) and James Stewart (1991-94) are tied for second with 35 each. Joshua Dobbs (2013-16) is fourth with 32.
George MacIntyre won second start in game he'll never forget
Quarterback George MacIntyre, a sophomore and former Brentwood Academy standout, made his second straight start since replacing injured and ineffective freshman Faizon Brandon.
MacIntyre finished 21-of-31 passing for 197 yards and one interception. He was steady, operating the offense efficiently and keeping the sticks moving in a low-scoring game.
Considering the stakes, it was quite a performance for a young quarterback making his second start. And winning this rivalry had to be special for a Tennessee native.
Vols finally hit paydirt with complementary football
After four field goals and other failed drives, UT finally scored a touchdown late in the third quarter. It was an impressive tag-team job by the defense and offense.
UT’s defense stopped Alabama on a fourth-and-1 play with Jeremiah Telander and Nathan Robinson leading the surge. UT’s offense took the ball and marched 60 yards in nine plays.
MacIntyre completed three straight passes. DeSean Bishop broke a 20-yard run, and then he scored on a 5-yard TD to extend UT’s lead to 19-10.
Tennessee got early field goals instead of touchdowns
Tennessee went ahead 9-0 on three Cooper Ranvier field goals, but it squandered opportunities to go ahead 21-0 in the first quarter.
The Vols drove 63 yards on their opening drive but stalled at the 10-yard line because of a fumbled exchange on second-and-goal and batted-down pass on third-and-goal.
Then UT’s defense forced a turnover, as Tyree Weathersby recovered a fumble at the Alabama 19. But DaSaahn Brame dropped a pass in the end zone. UT stalled and settled for another field goal.
On UT’s third possession, Brame’s 26-yard catch reached the edge of the red zone. But the Vols settled again for Ranvier’s 41-yard field goal.
It happened a fourth time in the second quarter when Ranvier made a 34-yard field goal to extend UT’s lead to 12-7.
Vols defense atoned for special teams error
UT’s defense had to make up for a major mistake by its special teams.
Late in the second quarter, Alabama booted a bouncing punt to UT. Returner Qua Moss stepped away from the punt, allowing Alabama to down the ball and end the play. But UT freshman Brayden Rouse incidentally touched the ball, and Alabama recovered.
Rouse initially reached down for the ball but did not touch it. However, he hovered over the ball and was pushed by an Alabama player. Rouse’s leg struck the ball and to make it live, and Alabama recovered.
Fortunately for the Vols, Alabama didn’t convert the turnover into points because Lane recovered a fumble for UT at the 11 on a fourth-down play. It marked the first time that Alabama had not scored in the red zone this season. It was 28-for-28 before that failed trip.
A similar special teams play happened in this game in 2022. But Alabama made the mistake that time, when Quandarrius Robinson touched a bouncing UT punt to make it a live ball. The Vols recovered in a key play of the Vols’ 52-49 win in 2022.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 6 Tennessee football takeaways from win over Alabama with dominant defense
