Tennessee's win over Alabama peaked at 14.7 million viewers on ABC
Saturday’s game between Tennessee and Alabama on ABC averaged 10.7 million viewers, according to ESPN, and peaked at 14.7 million. It was the second-most-watched Tennessee-Alabama on record, according to the press release.
The Georgia-Texas game that followed averaged 12.9 million viewers and peaked at 14.1 million. It was the biggest regular-season college football game on an ESPN platform since 2016 and the second best in the last 10 years.
The back-to-back games drew more than 10 million viewers on the same day on a single network for the first time since 1996.
Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Kentucky, Saturday, November 2
Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) is off this week before hosting Kentucky (3-4, 1-4) on Saturday, November 2. Kickoff will be either 7:30 p.m. or 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time and the game will be televised by either ESPN, ABC or SEC Network.
Details for the game will be finalized this weekend.
On Saturday Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 27 passes for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Dylan Sampson ran 26 times for 139 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Chris Brazzell had two catches for 27 yards, including the 16-yard go-ahead touchdown with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter.
The Vols trailed 7-0 at halftime after more offensive struggles in the first half, but overcame three deficits in the second half to win, beating Alabama at home for a second straight time, after winning 52-49 on a 40-yard field goal from Chase McGrath as time expired in 2022.
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Tennessee on Saturday ran 43 times for a team for 214 yards and Sampson’s two touchdowns. Iamaleava ran nine times for 44 yards and DeSesn Bishop had five carries for 36 yards.
Bru McCoy led all receivers with six catches for 80 yards. Dont’e Thornton caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 55-yarder in the second half.
Jermod McCoy and Will Brooks led Tennessee with eight tackles each. McCoy had an interception in the end zone in the first half that he returned 54 yards and Brooks sealed the win with an interception on Alabama’s final possession.
McCoy added 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Brooks had one TFL.
“Third Saturday in October,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his postgame press conference. “Football as good as it gets. Neyland effect, our fans, elite. Elite performance from them all night. Appreciate them hanging in with us on the offensive side of the ball when we were struggling.”
