Eric Boggs 
Tennessee handed Alabama their second loss of the season.
Tennessee football hosted Alabama in a thrilling matchup at Neyland Stadium, with the 11th-ranked Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 SEC) battling the No. 24 Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2 SEC) under the bright lights of ESPN’s primetime broadcast. The game, which kicked off at 7 p.m. Eastern, saw both teams enter with identical records, each looking to stay in the hunt for the SEC title.
Early on, it was Alabama that struck first. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Tide capitalized on a crucial pass interference call against Tennessee freshman Boo Carter, keeping their drive alive on third-and-12. Junior quarterback Jalen Milroe connected with freshman receiver Ryan Williams for a 5-yard touchdown, giving Alabama a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Tennessee’s response came in the third, with a 91-yard drive led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava and punctuated by junior running back Dylan Sampson’s 2-yard touchdown run, tying the game 7-7.
Alabama quickly regained the lead, converting a 35-yard field goal by Graham Nicholson to make it 10-7, but the Vols fired right back. A deep pass from Iamaleava to senior receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. set up another Sampson touchdown, giving Tennessee its first lead of the game, 14-10, at the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter saw plenty of drama. Alabama answered immediately, as Milroe led the Tide downfield, and sophomore running back Justice Haynes scored on a 7-yard run to put Alabama ahead 17-14. But Tennessee refused to back down. Iamaleava connected with sophomore receiver Chris Brazzell II on a perfectly placed fade for a go-ahead touchdown, putting Tennessee in front 21-17. The Vols then added a 41-yard field goal from Max Gilbert to extend their lead to 24-17 with just over a minute left.
Alabama’s final hope slipped away when a costly personal foul penalty created a fourth-and-22 situation, and Milroe was intercepted on the Tide’s last possession. Tennessee secured a 24-17 victory, marking their second consecutive win over Alabama in Knoxville.
Alabama’s loss was marred by penalties, committing 15 for 130 yards, including several crucial mistakes that stunted their comeback chances. Despite forcing three first-half turnovers, the Tide couldn’t convert those opportunities into points, a major factor in their defeat. This marks the second consecutive loss for Alabama at Neyland Stadium, and with two losses already in the SEC, their playoff hopes are now in jeopardy as they face a tough remaining schedule, including a critical matchup against LSU.
For Tennessee, the win was a statement of their resilience, with Iamaleava leading the Vols to a much-needed victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
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