Alabama vs. Tennessee: Live updates, score, highlights
The leaves are changing, the temperatures are chilling and there’s cigar smoke wafting through the air, which means it must be It’s the Third Saturday October and time for Alabama vs. Tennessee.
In a matchup with College Football Playoff stakes, the No. 4 Crimson Tide will take on the No. 11 Vols in Neyland Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Can Jalen Milroe lead Alabama to a win on the road? Or will Josh Heupel and Tennessee’s offense find some life against a Tide defense that’s been very leaky the last 10 quarters?
Vols ride defense, Sampson to comeback win
10/19/2024, 7:41:13 PMFor just the second time in 20 years, Tennessee won consecutive home games against rival Alabama in a spirited 24-17 victory. Safety Will Brooks intercepted Jalen Milroe to cap the comeback win which saw the Vols held scoreless for the third-straight first half.
Tailback Dylan Sampson sparked Tennessee’s offense after halftime, rushing for 100 yards on 18 carries with two scores in the second half. Sampson finished with 139 yards. It was a sloppy, ugly win, but the Vols playoff hopes remain alive, while Alabama (now with two losses and games against Missouri and LSU still on the schedule) likely has no more margin for error.
Tennessee tacks on FG
10/19/2024, 7:38:16 PMThe Vols couldn’t get a first down to end the game, and rather than go for it on 4th-and-1, Josh Heupel settled for a 41-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 24-17 lead. Alabama will have 90 seconds to try to scoring a game-tying touchdown drive.
Another back-breaking penalty
10/19/2024, 7:30:45 PMAfter an incompletion on 3rd-and-7, Alabama wideout Kendrick Law got flagged for a personal foul — the 15th penalty for 115 yards against the Tide on Saturday. Law was jawing with Tennessee linebacker Boo Carter, forcing Alabama to face a 4th-and-22. Despite having all three timeouts, Kalen DeBoer decided not to punt the football.
Alabama went for it at its own 20-yard-line, and Jalen Milroe was immediately pressured into a quick screen to Justice Haynes, which went for just 13 yards after freshman wideout Ryan Williams missed a block. Tennessee takes over with 1:45 remaining.
The Vols can’t shut the door
10/19/2024, 7:22:47 PMTennessee forced Alabama into a 3-and-out (possibly getting away with offsides on a third down sack), but the Vols couldn’t muster a first down on their ensuing possession, either. Alabama will have 2:25 to either tie the game or take the lead.
Tennessee strikes back
10/19/2024, 7:13:24 PMChris Brazzell made a diving catch in the back of the end zone to give Tennessee a 21-17 advantage with 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter — the fourth lead change in the second half. After over-shooting multiple 10+ yard throws, it was a picture-perfect pass from Nico Iamaleava for his first touchdown of the game. The Vols have scored TDs on three of their last four drives.
A crazy escape
10/19/2024, 7:09:53 PMJalen Milroe nearly gave Alabama fans a heart-attack by narrowly avoiding a costly safety for the second-straight game. As is, Milroe avoided pressure and threw the ball incomplete on a deep attempt to Ryan Williams. Tennessee is setup with excellent field position and is driving, though.
Alabama answers. Again.
10/19/2024, 6:50:07 PMSuddenly a shootout has broken out on Rocky Top. With Neyland Stadium buzzing, Alabama quickly quieted the raucous crowd with a breezy six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a Justice Haynes 7-yard run. Jalen Milroe found Germie Bernard for a 28-yard strike to setup the go-ahead touchdown. Alabama 17. Tennessee 14.
Rocky Top is roaring
10/19/2024, 6:40:54 PMTennessee’s offense has found its water? Maybe? Nico Iamaleava found Dont’e Thornton Jr. streaking down the right sideline for a 55-yard completion to setup Dylan Sampson’s second short touchdown plunge to give the Vols a 14-10 lead inside the final minute of the third quarter.
Alabama answers
10/19/2024, 6:31:34 PMThe Tide took a 10-7 lead after a short field goal by Graham Nicholson. The long drive (which featured several 12-yard completions by Jalen Milroe) stalled inside the red zone, as Milroe tried to force-feed Ryan Williams on two shots to the end zone. The freshman wideout has been targeted 13 times today, catching seven balls for 68 yards and a score.
Notably, Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy was injured on the drive and did not return. He made the one-handed pick earlier in the game and has been Tennessee’s best defensive back this season.
Touchdown Tennessee
10/19/2024, 6:15:41 PMDylan Sampson capped a 90-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the third quarter.
Signs of life?
10/19/2024, 6:13:21 PMTennessee finally ripped off an explosive play, as Dylan Sampson took a counter play 35 yards for the Vols’ longest play from scrimmage. Two snaps later, Nico Iamaleava sprinted 27 yards on a scramble to setup 1st-and-goal inside the 10.
Vols sputter to open 3Q
10/19/2024, 6:03:23 PMTennessee opened the third quarter with another fruitless drive. After a pair of first downs, Squirrel White dropped a long pass down the right sideline, and then Nico Iamaleava was sacked a great stunt blitz by Alabama.
Alabama misses FG, leads 7-0 at halftime
10/19/2024, 5:35:55 PMGraham Nicholson missed a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, as Alabama holds a 7-0 lead to end the second quarter. Tennessee has now been held scoreless for three-consecutive first halves for the first time since 1963.
The streak continues?
10/19/2024, 5:17:26 PMTennessee’s 1H scoreless streak remains in-tact after another missed field goal — this time a 50-yard kick that went wide right. For those counting, the Vols have now thrown two picks, with one fumble and two missed field goals. Their defense continues to do yeoman’s work keeping them in these games.
Another red zone INT
10/19/2024, 5:04:50 PMThis time it was Nico Iamaleava making a terrible decision/throw inside the 20-yard line, negating another scoring drive for the Vols. Alabama holds its 7-0 lead.
Nico is back
10/19/2024, 5:03:05 PMIamaleava is back and has completed his first two throws (both first downs).
Disgusting Alabama series
10/19/2024, 5:01:12 PMThe Tide just had one of their grossest offensive series of the season. After Malachi Moore’s interception, Alabama went:
*5-yard run
*Holding penalty on LT
*2-yard pass
*Delay of game
*Sack/Milroe intentional grounding
Ugly stuff.
Nico hurt
10/19/2024, 4:56:45 PMNico Iamaleava was tackled awkwardly on a sack and received medical attention. He is now in the medical tent and Gaston Moore came in at quarterback on a 3rd-and-nine and he immediately threw a horrible interception into double-coverage. Malachi Moore made the easy pick and returned it more than 30 yards.
Alabama strikes first
10/19/2024, 4:45:22 PMThis time the fade worked. The Tide took a 7-0 lead on a short throw to Ryan Williams, who made a juggling catch for the first score of the game. Alabama’s eight-play, 64-yard drive was extended any a controversial pass interference call on third down.
Scoresless 1Q
10/19/2024, 4:37:21 PMWell that was ugly. Turnovers. Penalties. Drops. Mis-throws.
At least my best-bet on the Under 56.5 is looking strong.
Vols miss FG
10/19/2024, 4:33:55 PMTennessee cannot capitalize on Alabama’s turnover, missing a 53-yard field goal wide right. Nico Iamaleava had another overshot on a would-be touchdown, while Chris Brazzell dropped a first down. The Vols now have 12 straight drives in the first half without a point.
Milroe throws INT in end zone
10/19/2024, 4:23:29 PMThe Tide were set to strike first but Milroe made a terrible decision trying to force the ball to star wideout Ryan Williams, badly under-throwing a fade inside the 5-yard line. In sticky coverage, Vols corner Jermod McCoy made a one-handed pick and returned the ball nearly 50 yards close to midfield.
More Nico overthrows
10/19/2024, 4:15:58 PMTennessee’s redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava continues misfire on open, downfield throws. He missed a 1-on-1 sideline shot to Chris Brazzell by more than five yards, and is now just 7 of 17 on throws over 10 yards in Tennessee’s last four games.
An early momentum swing?
10/19/2024, 4:01:04 PMAfter a disastrous opening offensive possession (a three-and-out with a false start and a pair of negative Jalen Milroe runs), Alabama forced the game’s first turnover on Tennessee’s opening possession.
For the second-straight Saturday, the Vols get into the red zone on their first drive only to see star tailback Dylan Sampson fumble for the first time in his career. Malachi Moore punched the ball out at the 18-yard-line and it was recovered by linebacker Jihaad Campbell
Alabama vs. Tennessee kickoff time
10/19/2024, 4:02:09 PMWith the Miami-Louisville game running long, the kickoff start has been pushed for 3:50 p.m., (ET).
Final Alabama vs. Tennessee spread, O/U
10/19/2024, 4:02:19 PMThe Alabama vs. Tennessee line opened with the Tide as a two-point favorite, but it has since settled at Tennessee +3.5 with 30 minutes before kickoff. The Over/Under sits at 57.5.