Game Recap – Alabama vs Tennessee

Chase McGrath booted a 40-yard field goal as the clock expired, and sixth-ranked Tennessee ended a 15-year drought with a 52-49 victory over third-ranked Alabama on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Alabama vs Tennessee faces off in a thrilling showdown. The highly anticipated match between the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the Volunteers of Tennessee is sure to be a gridiron battle for the ages.

The Volunteers (6-0, 3-0) secured their first win against Alabama since 2006 and remained perfect in the Southeastern Conference East Division. The Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1) suffered its first loss and is in second place in the West Division behind unbeaten Ole Miss.

Jalin Hyatt knotted the score at 49 with his fifth touchdown of the game with less than four minutes left in the game. The junior wideout set a school record for touchdown receptions and finished with 207 yards on six catches for 207 yards.

Tennessee drew first blood on Jabari Small’s one-yard score but Alabama answered back with an eight-yard touchdown run from Jahmyr Gibbs. Hyatt and senior quarterback Herndon Hooker connected on a pair of scoring passes to give the Volunteers a 21-7 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Alabama closed the gap to 28-20 at the half on Bryce Young’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Corey Brooks and a pair of field goals off the foot of Will Reichard.

Gibbs broke loose on a 26-yard scamper for his second score of the game early in the third. Young and Brooks hooked up on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 28. Tennessee pulled ahead less than sixty seconds later when Hyatt caught a 60-yard bomb from Hooker for his third trip to the end zone. However, McGrath missed the extra-point attempt to make it a six-point affair.

The Crimson Tide struck back late in the third on Gibb’s third touchdown to grab a 35-34 lead. But Hooker and Hyatt connected for two more scoring strikes to set the stage for McGrath’s late-game heroics.

Hooker completed 21-of-30 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns. The Virginia Tech transfer has tossed 41 touchdowns and three interceptions in 18 games with the Volunteers.

Gibbs rushed for 103 yards on 24 carries while Brooks and Cameron Latu finished with six catches and a touchdown for Alabama.

Young returned after a two-week absence and tallied 455 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has 60 touchdowns and seven picks in 26 collegiate games.

Tennessee will host the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (4-2, 3-0) next week in Knoxville. Alabama will square off against 16th-ranked Mississippi State (5-2, 2-2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

In the end, both teams gave it their all, but it was Alabama who emerged victorious in the Alabama vs Tennessee showdown. The intense competition and sportsmanship displayed by both sides made for an unforgettable game, solidifying the deep-rooted rivalry between these two football powerhouses.