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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football collapses, falls to Tennessee in Third Saturday of October
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football collapses, falls to Tennessee in Third Saturday of October
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – College Football Playoff implications filled Neyland Stadium on Saturday in a battle of two top-10, one-loss SEC teams seemingly with no safety net when it comes to the expanded CFP.
The latest edition of the Third Saturday of October rivalry between Alabama football and Tennessee was by no means pristine: a game filled with mistakes, turnovers, penalties and miscues uncharacteristic of CFP teams.
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But to No. 10 Tennessee, that didn't matter, using a 16-yard touchdown connection between Nico Iamaleava and Chris Brazzell II with fewer than six minutes left along with a late field goal and multiple defensive stops against Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense to spark pandemonium, beating No. 7 Alabama , 24-17.
Alabama will host Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Here are the main observations from Saturday's loss to Tennessee.
Jalen Milroe fails to lead Alabama football to CFP moment
The stage was set for Milroe. Alabama trailed by four points with fewer than three minutes left in a raucous road atmosphere, facing a defensive front that had given him problems all afternoon.
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The stage was set for Milroe to show what type of team Alabama was going to be to begin the Kalen DeBoer era.
Starting with an incomplete pass, Milroe found Justice Haynes for a 3-yard gain, but could not connect with Kendrick Law , who had a personal foul that moved the Crimson Tide even farther back into its own territory. On 4th-and-22, Milroe found Miller for a minimal gain.
And with one more shot with less than two minutes left, Milroe ignited a Tennessee celebration, throwing his second interception on a pass meant for Germie Bernard , leaving the Crimson Tide on the short end of its second consecutive trip to Knoxville.
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Alabama football defense shows promise, falls short
Tennessee defensive back William Wright (0) attempts to tackled Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore (13) during a game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
One number has defined success for Alabama's defense all season. It's not time of possession or yards allowed, stats opposing offenses have taken advantage of against the Crimson Tide all season long. It's simply the turnover margin.
And on Saturday against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide won the turnover battle yet again.
Malachi Moore forced a fumble picked up by Jihaad Campbell . By the end of the first half, both Moore and Jaylen Mbakwe added interceptions. And those turnovers turned into moments of success, but Vols running back Dylan Sampson heated up. Iamaleva found his deep ball and success in the run game. The Alabama defense ended up falling short because of an inability to stop Sampson and Iamaleava.
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Where was Alabama's run game against Tennessee?
Tennessee defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) tackles Alabama running back Jam Miller (26) during a game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
Alabama's rushing attack was nowhere to be found against Tennessee.
Facing one of the more athletic defensive lines in the SEC, the Crimson Tide could not muster any momentum in the ground game, averaging fewer than 2 yards per touch in the first half.
Alabama's offensive line was overwhelmed. Milroe's pocket collapsed consistently where he ran for his life, throwing balls away, getting tackled near the line of scrimmage or for loss. There was no room for Miller or Haynes to work in space.
The fourth quarter changed the narrative a bit. Jam Miller started with an 11-yard rush. Haynes ended the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Crimson Tide the lead.
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Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football collapses vs Tennessee in Third Saturday of October
