The Athletic ranks 2022 Tennessee-Alabama as 12th best game of 2000s
Tennessee’s 52-49 win over Alabama in October 2022 was ranked as the 12th best game of the 2000s this week by The Athletic. The outlet ranked the top 25 programs, teams, players, coaches and games of the century so far.
The win over the Crimson Tide in the Third Saturday in October rivalry was the only representation for the Vols in any of the rankings.
“Tennessee jumped to a 28-10 lead over the Crimson Tide in a top-10 showdown at Neyland Stadium,” The Athletic’s David Ubben wrote. “Alabama rallied to tie the game at 28 early in the third quarter.
“The teams traded scores and were tied at 42 when Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner scooped up a mishandled exchange and returned it 11 yards to put the Tide up seven midway through the fourth quarter. Tennessee answered with a 75-yard drive capped by Jalin Hyatt’s fifth touchdown catch of the night.”
Chase McGrath kicked walk-off field goal in dramatic win over Alabama
The five touchdowns were a single-game program record and came on just six catches, with Hyatt finishing with 207 receiving yards. Hendon Hooker completed 21 of 30 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns and the Vols rushed 39 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
“Alabama reached Tennessee’s 32 with 34 seconds left, but after three incomplete passes, Will Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal attempt,” Ubben continued.
“Tennessee didn’t settle for overtime, and Hendon Hooker threw a pair of long completions to set up a tipped, wobbly, 40-yard game-winning kick from Chase McGrath to sett off a part on Rocky Top celebrating the end of Alabama’s 15-game winning streak in the series.”
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Josh Heupel: 2-2 vs. Alabama as Tennessee’s head coach
Josh Heupel has given Tennessee life in the rivalry with Alabama. After the 52-49 win in 2022, the Vols went to Alabama and built a 20-7 halftime lead a year later at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
The Tide woke up in the second half and rolled to a 34-20 with after scoring 27 unanswered points over the third and fourth quarters.
Tennessee beat Alabama 24-17 last season in Knoxville. Dylan Sampson ran 26 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Brazzell caught a go-ahead 16-yard touchdown pass with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter.
Alabama leads the all-time series 59-40-7 dating back to a 6-6 tie when the two teams first met on November 28, 1901 in Birmingham.
