CBS Sports reveals record-setting television numbers from Alabama-Tennessee game

When Tennessee beat Alabama for the first time in 15 years, the scenes of pandemonium on the field clearly demonstrated how big of a moment was unfolding in the history of college football. Not only did the game-winning field goal and 52-49 score pass the eye test, the television numbers clearly demonstrate that everyone with a stake in the outcome – and plenty more – felt the need to tune in and be part of the moment.

According to CBS Sports and Paramount, the game set a series record for most viewers and joined LSU’s road win over Alabama in 2019 as one of the most-watched games broadcasted by the network in recent memory.

“Tennessee’s 52-49 victory over Alabama on Saturday scored as the most-watched Alabama-Tennessee game on record (since 1987) and the most-watched game of the season on any network, averaging 11.557 million viewers and up +145% vs. last year’s meeting,” a press release read.

“The game peaked with nearly 17 million viewers and is the most-watched regular-season game on CBS in three years since LSU-Alabama in 2019 (16.712 million viewers).”

Tennessee smokes victory cigars after win over Alabama

Tennessee football watched as Alabama celebrated with victory cigars for the past 15 seasons. But after notching a 52-49 victory against the Crimson Tide on Saturday — their first since 2006 — the Volunteers finally got their chance to partake in the tradition.

It was revealed postgame that walk-on receiver Grant Frerking, who works for On3, provided the cigars for his teammates. The cigars are from Outsider, a media and lifestyle company that celebrates American culture through entertainment, sports, outdoors and news.

“@outsider @AndyJohnsonD17 and @On3sports @GrantFrerking supplied the Vols with their victory cigars,” Shannon Terry, founder of both Outsider and On3 tweeted. “Coach Heupel is now on his 2nd and 125 players are lighting up.”

Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel said postgame he was a fan of the cigars, according to Sports Illustrated Ross Dellenger.

“I smoked it slow but it was dang good, man,” Heupel said.