In a season already marked by chaos in the SEC, the Tennessee Volunteers delivered yet another seismic shockwave on Saturday night. The 11th-ranked Vols rallied from a halftime deficit to stun the 7th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 24-17, notching their second victory over their bitter rival in the last three meetings.
The triumph sent the sold-out crowd of 101,915 at Neyland Stadium into a frenzy, with fans storming the field, tearing down the goalposts, and gleefully puffing on victory cigars – a longstanding tradition in a rivalry dating back over 120 years. But for fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, conquering the Crimson Tide is becoming a more recent tradition.
“When we got here, I never talked about it because at the end of the day nobody cares,” Heupel said of Tennessee’s prior 15-game losing streak to Alabama before his arrival. “They care what the scoreboard looks like each week. As a program, we’ve got to improve this year. But I really do feel like we’re just getting started.”
Vols Overcome Sluggish Start with Explosive Plays
For the third consecutive game, Tennessee failed to score a point in the first half, entering the locker room trailing 10-0. But Heupel’s high-octane offense found its footing after the break. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, despite a shaky start, connected on explosive plays to ignite the Vols.
Iamaleava unleashed a 55-yard strike to receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. to set up a Dylan Sampson touchdown run, putting the Vols ahead 14-10 late in the third quarter. After Alabama reclaimed a 17-14 lead, Iamaleava found Chris Brazzell II for a diving 16-yard touchdown to put Tennessee up for good.
“It’s next-play mentality. Like coach Heupel preaches, you gotta keep battling, keep going strong for our guys, and I’m glad we could get that done.”
– Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee QB
Sampson proved to be the workhorse, punishing the Tide defense with 127 of his 139 rushing yards coming in the second half. The bruising sophomore now has 17 rushing TDs on the season.
Vols’ Elite Defense Makes the Difference
While the offense sputtered early, it was Tennessee’s swarming defense that kept them afloat. Heupel called the unit both “elite” and “special” after they held an opponent under 20 points for the seventh straight game.
The Vols limited Alabama to a paltry 75 rushing yards and harassed quarterback Jalen Milroe all night long. The Tide signal-caller was picked off twice, sacked three times, and managed just 11 yards on 14 carries.
Linebacker Arion Carter praised the Vols’ raucous home crowd for fueling their dominant defensive effort. “Oh yeah, it was rocking, especially on those last couple drives,” Carter said. “It was so loud (Alabama) couldn’t get their pass protection set. Having a crowd like that behind you screaming, it’s definitely a great feeling.”
Defining Moments Swing the Tide
- A 27-yard scramble by Iamaleava in the 3rd quarter sparks the Vols’ previously dormant offense, leading to their first TD.
- Walk-on safety Will Brooks, an Alabama native, seals the victory with a leaping interception of Milroe in the final minutes.
- Dylan Sampson’s punishing second-half runs wear down the Tide defense. “Obviously our defense is out there giving us confidence,” Sampson said. “That lights a fire.”
For Tennessee, conquering Alabama is no longer a once-in-a-generation occurrence – it’s becoming an annual expectation under Josh Heupel. And in the chaotic landscape of the SEC, the surging Vols have their sights set on even greater heights. As Heupel boldly stated, “I really do feel like we’re just getting started as a program.”
