Tennessee defeated Alabama 24-17 at Neyland Stadium, marking the second consecutive victory over the Crimson Tide for the Volunteers. Will Brooks sealed the win for No. 10 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) with an interception of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. The Vols also triumphed over Alabama in 2022, giving them back-to-back home wins against their rivals, which had previously endured a 15-game losing streak to the Tide before last year’s match.
With this loss, Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC) faces increased challenges in its quest for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff and a realistic path to the SEC championship.
In a tightly contested first half, Alabama took a 7-0 lead thanks to a touchdown pass from Milroe to Ryan Williams, despite forcing three Tennessee turnovers. However, the Tide squandered opportunities, including a missed field goal and an interception deep within Vols territory.
After a scoreless first half, Tennessee outscored Alabama 24-10 in the second half, rebounding from a shutout in the first half of their last three games. The Vols amassed 265 yards of offense in the second half, compared to Alabama’s 158, with a significant advantage on the ground, rushing for 214 yards to Alabama’s 75.
Defensively, Tennessee’s unit was strong, tallying three sacks and nine tackles for loss, which put Alabama in several challenging third down situations. Despite the defeat, Alabama’s Ryan Williams had a standout performance with a career-high eight receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
As Tennessee took control in the fourth quarter, Nico Iamaleava connected with Chris Brazzell for a key touchdown, securing a lead for the Vols. Despite a late surge from Alabama, Brooks’ interception ensured Tennessee would emerge victorious once again in this historic rivalry.