No. 6 Alabama Stifles No. 11 Tennessee 37–20, Extends Ranked Win Streak to Four

No. 6 Alabama stifled No. 11 Tennessee 37–20 on Saturday night, extending its dominance in the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry and notching a fourth straight win over a ranked opponent.

The turning point came right before halftime. Zabien Brown read the play perfectly, snatched Joey Aguilar’s pass, and raced 99 yards the other way for a stunning pick-six as time expired. The play gave the Crimson Tide a 23–7 lead, sent Bryant-Denny Stadium into chaos, and effectively broke Tennessee’s rhythm.

“I saw open field and just started running,” Brown said afterward. “If I get tackled, the half’s over—so I had to find a way into the end zone.”

From there, Alabama’s defense clamped down with its best performance of the season. The Tide held what had been the nation’s top-scoring offense to just 410 yards—well below its usual 529-yard average—and forced key stops whenever Tennessee threatened to rally.

Quarterback Ty Simpson was steady and efficient, completing 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while leading a pair of 90-plus-yard scoring drives. Alabama became the first team in SEC history to beat four consecutive ranked teams without a bye week in between.

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 268 yards and a touchdown but also had a costly interception. Running back DeSean Bishop carried the Vols’ offense with 123 rushing yards and two scores, yet it wasn’t enough to overcome Alabama’s control at the line of scrimmage.

The Vols briefly made it interesting in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to nine and forcing a Simpson fumble. But Alabama’s defense held firm, forcing a three-and-out before the offense answered with a punishing 99-yard touchdown drive to ice the game.

Daniel Hill’s four-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the win and triggered the traditional postgame ritual—cigar smoke billowing from every corner of Bryant-Denny. Even Simpson lit one up on his way off the field.

With this victory, Alabama prevented Tennessee from winning back-to-back matchups in the rivalry for the first time since 2003–04. The Tide have now taken 17 of the last 19 meetings.

“The biggest thing is how committed these guys are to the process,” said coach Kalen DeBoer. “You can see it every day—their edge, their energy. They haven’t lost it.”

Poll Implications:

With No. 5 Ole Miss falling to No. 9 Georgia, Alabama’s resume should push them firmly into the top five in next week’s AP Poll. Tennessee, meanwhile, will tumble after suffering its second SEC loss.

Takeaways:

– Tennessee: Failed to hit 30 points for the first time all season and couldn’t generate a single sack from a defense that leads the SEC in that category.
– Alabama: Four ranked wins, a surging quarterback, and a suffocating defense—this team looks like a legitimate national title contender.

Next Up:

Tennessee travels to Kentucky, while Alabama heads to South Carolina as it continues its march toward the SEC crown.