Alabama vs. Tennessee live updates, score, game analysis and highlights

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Tennessee strikes back

Early 3Q: Alabama 23, Tennessee 13

Tennessee forced a three-and-out to begin the third quarter and then produced a quick-strike touchdown via a 44-yard DeSean Bishop scamper. That was an impressive response from the Volunteers, who could have been completely demoralized by the way the first half ended. Alabama has not generated anything in the traditional run game, so the Crimson Tide may still have to run some offense to get out with a victory.

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Alabama's opportunistic defense

It's hard to overstate how back-breaking that pick-six was for Tennessee. The Volunteers had executed to near-perfection while marching down the field to position themselves for a touchdown to potentially make the score 16-14. But as was often the case in the first half, Alabama's defense made a timely play. That's been the MO for Kane Wommack's unit all season — to bend without breaking. Against Vanderbilt, the Crimson. Tide forced Diego Pavia into a pair of red-zone turnovers. Now they've done it again vs. Tennessee. On a down-to-down basis, it's not an elite defense. But in clutch moments, it has been coming through.

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Zabien Brown changes the game

Half: Alabama 23, Tennessee 7

Zabien Brown just changed the entire complexion of this game with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. Tennessee had a second-and-goal with nine seconds left. But since the Volunteers were out of timeouts, they opted for a pass play. Brown jumped it, took off running and evaded one potential tackler on his way to the end zone. That was a likely 14-point swing before the break, and Alabama gets the football to start the second half.

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Alabama seizes control

Late 2Q: Alabama 16, Tennessee 7

Alabama has seized control here in the second quarter with a 69-yard touchdown drive jumpstarted by a couple of strikes from Ty Simpson to Germie Bernard. The Crimson Tide get the football to begin the second half, so the upcoming possession will be big for Tennessee to either score or at least run some clock to prevent Alabama from piling on more before the break.

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Alabama's front wreaks havoc again

Mid 2Q: Alabama 9, Tennessee 7

Tennessee had secured the momentum with a touchdown drive and then by forcing a three-and-out. But after the Volunteers got the football back with the scored tied at 7-7, they went straight backwards. The possession began wit an offensive pass interference penalty that backed Tennessee up inside its own 10-yard line. Then Joey Aguilar was called for intentional grounding in the end zone while trying to escape Alabama's pass rush.

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Tennessee ties it up

9:46 2Q: Alabama 7, Tennessee 7

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar was on point during a game-tying touchdown drive, completing 4 of 5 passes, including a 2-yard scoring strike to Braylon Staley in the back of the end zone. Staley also made a 30-yard reception on a third-and-8 play to key the entire series. The Tennessee offensive line did a much better job in pass protection on that series after allowing sacks on the Vols' first two possessions.

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Alabama's pass rush making a mark

Late 1Q: Alabama 7, Tennessee 0

Tennessee was marching into Alabama territory with visions of tying the game when Yhonzae Pierre sacked Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar for a loss of 13 on third-and-6. That play wrecked Tennessee's momentum and forced a punt. The Vols had done a good job of keeping Aguilar upright this season, but Pierre has already picked up a couple of sacks on the Tennessee quarterback in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Ty Simpson is off to a 5 of 6 start through the air as the Crimson Tide look strong early.

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Historic Alabama vs. Tennessee series rejuvenated

As Alabama reeled off 15 straight victories in the series under Nick Saban between 2007 and 2021, the Crimson Tide's annual rivalry with Tennessee began to lose some of its luster. The Volunteers were routinely non-competitive in the game known historically as the "Third Saturday in October," and the matchup waned in its national significance.

But when the Volunteers knocked off Saban and the Tide in a top-10 battle in 2022, it rejuvenated the historic series, which will be renewed again Saturday in a high-stakes situation. No. 11 Tennessee has won two of the past three in the rivalry, but the Volunteers haven't won inside Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2003.

No. 6 Alabama will be looking to extend its home winning streak over the Volunteers to 11 games and to stay among the dwindling group of teams that are unbeaten in SEC play. The Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-0 SEC) have rattled off five straight wins since a Week 1 loss at Florida State but have yet to face an offense quite this electric.

Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) ranks No. 4 nationally in total offense at 527.8 yards per game and has scored 30-plus points in its first six games for just the second time in program history. The Third Saturday in October officially has its significance back as these schools meet as top-15 foes for the third time in the past four seasons.

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QB Power Rankings

This game is a battle between two top-15 teams and two top-15 quarterbacks. Alabama's Ty Simpson is No. 1 in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings for the second straight week. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar is No. 14. Here is the full 1-50 breakdown of where the sport's QBs stood entering Week 8 action.

College Football QB Power Rankings: USC's Jayden Maiava surges, Arch Manning returns to top 50

David Cobb

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QB Power Rankings

This game is a battle between two top-15 teams and two top-15 quarterbacks. Alabama's Ty Simpson is No. 1 in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings for the second straight week. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar is No. 14. Here is the full 1-50 breakdown of where the sport's QBs stand entering Week 8 action.

College Football QB Power Rankings: USC's Jayden Maiava surges, Arch Manning returns to top 50

David Cobb

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Midseason top 150

Alabama put five players on the CBS Sports list of college football's top 150 players at midseason. Tennessee had four. It's no surprise that Alabama's Ty Simpson is the first quarterback listed. See who else made the rankings and where they landed in the full 150 from Blake Brockermeyer.

College Football's Top 150 Players at Midseason of 2025: The definitive list, led by Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.

Blake Brockermeyer

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Significant quarterback battle

This game is a battle between two of the best passers not only in the SEC but nationally. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar leads the league in passing yards at 1,680 with Alabama's Ty Simpson just behind him at 1,678. Simpson leads the conference in touchdown passes with 16 with Aguilar in second at 14. Both will also take, and hit, their share of intermediate and downfield shots. Where Simpson has a bit of separation is that he's been intercepted only once this season, whereas Aguilar has been picked off five times.

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Pass protection issues

Part of what has made Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson so impressive during the season's first half is that he's regularly been under pressure. Alabama is 91st nationally in sacks allowed after giving up four sacks in each of its last two games. The Crimson Tide have allowed pressure on 29.3% of dropbacks, which ranks 61st nationally. Tennessee's defense isn't a juggernaut like last season, but the Vols do get after opposing quarterbacks. They rank No. 2 nationally in sacks with 26. Protecting Simpson will be a challenge for Bama.

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Time of possession battle

Tennessee ranks No. 17 nationally in turnovers gained with 11, but the Crimson Tide have coughed up the football only twice this season. If Alabama doesn't give the ball away, it will force the Tennessee defense to come up with stops against an Alabama offense that converts on better than 50% of its third downs. The Crimson Tide rank No. 7 nationally in time of possession, whereas the Volunteers are No. 124 in the same category. Bama has done a masterful job of bleeding the clock and wearing opponents down during its 3-0 start to league play. Tennessee's up-tempo offensive style could play right into the hands of the Crimson Tide.

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Alabama vs. Tennessee prediction, pick

Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and Tennessee's Josh Heupel are two of the best offensive minds in the head coaching ranks, and they each have high-caliber quarterbacks. But the Crimson Tide have chosen to play a clock-bleeding style so far during conference action, which has depressed the amount of scoring in Bama games. Tennessee likes to go fast, but the Volunteers may have to slow things down to get their defense some rest. If not, Bama could dominate time of possession and slowly wear the Volunteers down. Barring an unforeseen spat of turnovers from a sure-handed Alabama team, this game could have fewer possessions -- and fewer points -- than you might think. Pick: Under 58.5

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