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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football uses Tennessee rivalry win to become CFP contenders: Postgame grades
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football uses Tennessee rivalry win to become CFP contenders: Postgame grades
On a stage meant to siphon College Football Playoff contenders from pretenders in the SEC, Alabama football looked confident knowing which side it stood on.
This edition "Third Saturday in October" was a revenge game after the Crimson Tide lost Kalen DeBoer's first road game against Tennessee in 2024. And under the bright lights of Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, Oct. 18, Alabama , dominated Tennessee, beating the Volunteers 37-20.
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With Alabama 's win against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide has four straight top-15 wins, adding the Volunteers to a list of Georgia, Vanderbilt and Missouri .
Here's how Alabama football graded out against Tennessee:
Alabama football offense: B+
When Alabama's offense clicked, it was because Ty Simpson was what he's been all year: calm and collected around the pocket, spreading the ball around and taking what the Tennessee defense was giving him. But the Crimson Tide had no safety net of a run game until late, when time of possession became priority. In the long run, it didn't matter. Simpson was enough.
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Alabama defense: A-
Familiar problems hurt Alabama's defense. Tennessee was able to gash the Crimson Tide with its run game. But there was a difference against the Volunteers. Yhonzae Pierre was a maniac, the face of a kind of pressure the Crimson Tide hasn't shown in years. And when Alabama's back was against the wall, Zabien Brown gave Crimson Tide fans a 99-yard highlight that will be played continuously in future "Third Saturday in October" reels. Alabama's defense did not have to be perfect. It had enough "perfect" moments.
Alabama special teams: B-
Conor Talty made the extra points he needed to. Blake Doud was unable to flip the field consistently. And Alabama really did not show much push in the return game. All in all, a standard Alabama special teams performance.
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Alabama coaching: A+
Alabama was not focused on the history of the Tennessee rivalry. To Kalen DeBoer, something much bigger was at stake: a continued reclamation project after the Crimson Tide's season-opening loss to Florida State , one that has sent shockwaves through four SEC games. Alabama is not slowing down, and that has showed up on each side of the ball.
Alabama overall vs Tennessee: A
On the "Third Saturday in October," Alabama officially became a College Football Playoff contender with another top-15 SEC win.
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 vs Tennessee postgame grades
