The No. 6 Crimson Tide defeated rival and No. 11 Tennessee 37-20 on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to win their fourth straight over a top 20 opponent
The win for Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC) is the 11th straight in Tuscaloosa over the Vols (5-2, 2-2) and exacts revenge for a loss last season.
Ty Simpson completed 19-of-29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the win for the Crimson Tide. Ryan Williams had five receptions for 87 yards, while Germi Bernard added five grabs for 60 yards.
Perhaps the biggest play for the Crimson Tide was a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown for Zabien Brown at the end of the first half. The Vols were at the 1-yard line and about to cut the Alabama lead to one score; however, Brown’s score gave the Tide a 23-7 halftime lead.
Tennessee actually out-gained Alabama 410-373, but the Crimson Tide’s defense played bend-but-don’t-break defense all night. The Vols converted just two out of five red-zone opportunities.
USA TODAY brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out below:
Alabama vs Tennessee score
This section will be updated throughout the game.
Alabama vs Tennessee highlights
Alabama-Tennessee score: Crimson Tide 37, Vols 20 (Final)
Alabama-Tennessee final stats
Final stats
Alabama earns 37-20 win over Tennessee
Kalen DeBoer is off the schneid against rival Tennessee. The second-year Alabama coach led the Crimson Tide to a 37-20 win over Tennessee on Saturday. Alabama moves to 6-1 and 4-0 in the SEC.
Tennessee turns ball over on downs
Tennessee turns the ball over on downs inside the Alabama 20-yard line and that should do it with just over three minutes left in the game. The Crimson Tide will have a chance to run the clock out.
Alabama fans have begun the tradition of smoking cigars to celebrate the win over their rivals.
Daniel Hill scores Alabama rushing touchdown
Daniel Hill scores a four-yard touchdown and Alabama now leads 37-20 with 5:49 left in the game. Hill’s score caps a 10-play, 75-yard drive in 5:02 of game time. The Vols committed a pair of defensive pass interferences to aid the scoring drive.
The Crimson Tide had 38 rushing yards on the drive after starting the drive with just 74.
DeSean Bishop scores second touchdown of game
DeSean Bishop scores his second touchdown of the game to cut the Alabama lead to 30-20 with 10:51 left in the game. This touchdown comes from 1 yard out.
Tennessee’s scoring drive is 13 plays for 75 yards and takes 4:34 off the clock.
End of third quarter: Alabama 30, Tennessee 20
Alabama scores on Rico Scott touchdown catch
Rico Scott catches a pass from Ty Simpson, breaks a tackle and scores an 11-yard touchdown to push Alabama’s lead to 30-13 with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
That caps a 99-yard drive for the Crimson Tide, which took nine plays and 5:26 off the game clock.
Tennessee misses opportunity after turnover
Tennessee punts it away after forcing a Ty Simpson fumble, coming away with zero points after the turnover.
The good news for Vols fans, Jackson Ross boots a perfect ball and drops it at the 1-yard line for teammate William Wright to down. Alabama begins its drive backed all the way up.
Ty Simpson fumbles near midfield
Ty Simpson fumbles the ball on third-and-10, with Tennessee taking over at its own 47-yard line. Simpson lost control of the ball before his hand moved forward, as he appears to make contact with teammate Kaydn Proctor’s shoulder.
DeSean Bishop scores on long TD run
DeSean Bishop breaks off a big 44-yard run to cut the Alabama lead to 23-13 with 11:18 left in the third quarter. The Vols go for two, but the Crimson Tide intercepts a Joey Aguilar pass in the end zone.
The scoring drive is four plays for 61 yards and takes 1:39 off the clock.
Alabama goes three-and-out
Tennessee’s defense gets a much-needed stop and forces Alabama into a three-and-out to open the second half.
The Vols will begin their first drive of the second half from their own 46-yard line.
Alabama opens with ball to begin second half
Alabama will open with the ball to start the second half. The Crimson Tide have a chance to blow this game open with another score.
Halftime: Alabama 23, Tennessee 7
Alabama-Tennessee halftime stats
Zabien Brown returns interception for touchdown to end half
Tennessee opts to throw the ball with 9 seconds left in the half from the Alabama 1-yard line, but Zabien Brown picks off a pass from Joey Aguilar and returns it 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 23-7 lead going into halftime.
Jam Miller scores touchdown for Alabama
Jam Miller scores on a 1-yard toss play to give Alabama a 16-7 lead with 4:05 left in the second quarter. Alabama drives 69 yards on seven plays in 3:16 of game time to push its lead to two scores.
Ty Simpson is 11-of-16 for 162 passing yards and a touchdown, while Miller now has six rushes for seven yards and the score.
Alabama re-takes lead on Tennessee safety
Yhonzae Pierre gets credited with a sack on a pass rush of Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar in the end zone. The officials determine that Aguilar commits an intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.
Alabama re-takes a 9-7 lead and gets the ball back with 7:21 left in the first half.
Tennessee ties game on Joey Aguilar touchdown pass to Braylon Staley
Tennessee’s offense gets going with a 10-play, 78-yard drive to tie the game 7-7 on a Joey Aguilar 2-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley. The Vols were able to sustain a drive for the first time tonight.
Ty Simpson is 10-for-13 passing for 118 yards and a touchdown following the drive.
End of first quarter: Alabama 7, Tennessee 0
Alabama leads Tennessee 7-0 after first quarter
Alabama holds a 7-0 lead after one quarter of play. The Crimson Tide scored on a touchdown pass from Ty Simpson to Isaiah Horton to cap an 11-play drive.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s offense is struggling with -19 yards rushing in the first quarter and just 40 yards total on 13 plays.
Alabama strikes first on Ty Simpson TD pass
After Alabama forces Tennessee to punt on its opening drive, Ty Simpson caps a 91-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton to give the Crimson Tide an early 7-0 lead with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
The scoring drive is 11 plays for 91 yards and takes 6:02 off the game clock. Ryan Williams had a big 31-yard grab on the drive.
Tennessee to open on offense
Alabama wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. Tennessee will receive and Alabama will defend the north goal.
Pregame
Joey Aguilar stats
Following the transfer of Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee football added UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar to its roster to lead a team that was ready to contend for the College Football Playoff.
Here’s a look at Aguilar’s stats in his first season as the Vols’ starting QB:
- 2025: 118-of-182 (64.8%) for 1,680 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions
Ty Simpson stats
Ty Simpson is in his first year as the starting quarterback for Alabama football. Simpson had attempted just 50 career passes in his career heading into his fourth year with the Crimson Tide, but has led them to a 5-1 start to the season.
Here’s a look at the stats for Simpson.
- 2025: 134-of-189 passing (70.9%) for 16 touchdowns and one interception
Final Alabama-Tennessee SEC availability report
Alabama injury update:
Out
- LB Qua Russaw
- LB Jah-Marien Latham
- LB Cayden Jones
- WR Derek Meadows
- DL Jeremiah Beaman
Game-time decision
- WR Jaylen Mbakwe
- TE Danny Lewis Jr.
Tennessee injury update:
Out
- TE Ethan Davis
- DB Rickey Gibson III
- WR Travis Smith Jr.
- DB Jermond McCoy
- WR Radarious Jackson
Out (first half)
- LB Edwin Spillman
Alabama home winning streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Alabama enters Saturday’s matchup against Tennessee with 15 straight wins at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide’s last home loss was to Texas on Sept. 9, 2023. Alabama has not lost a home game in the Kalen DeBoer era.
The last time Tennessee beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa was in 2003. The 15-game home winning streak is tied with Boise State for the longest in the country.
ESPN ‘College GameDay’ picks Alabama-Tennessee winner
Here’s how the crew on ESPN’s “College GameDay” picked to win the Alabama-Tennessee matchup:
- Nick Saban: Alabama
- Desmond Howard: Alabama
- Kirk Herbstreit: Alabama
- Pat McAfee: Alabama
- Jelly Roll: Tennessee
Why is Tennessee-Alabama game called the ‘Third Saturday’ in October?
Ranking the 10 best ‘Third Saturday in October’ matchups
The Tennessee-Alabama rivalry has been a college football matchup that brings excitement to fans. Here’s a look at USA TODAY’s rankings of the top 10 best ‘Third Saturday in October’ games.
What time does Alabama vs Tennessee start?
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 18
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The ‘Third Saturday in October’ matchup between Alabama and Tennessee is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, Oct. 18, from Nick Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What TV channel is Alabama vs Tennessee on today?
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
The Crimson Tide and Vols’ game will air nationally on ABC. Sean McDonough will serve as the play-by-play commentator, with Greg McElroy serving as the analyst and Molly McGrath as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Alabama vs Tennessee predictions
- Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Alabama 34, Tennessee 30
The Crimson Tide keep rolling with another home win against the Vols. Ty Simpson continues to display why he is getting looks as a potential first-round prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.
- John Adams, Knox News: Alabama 45, Tennessee 30
Alabama has the best pass defense Tennessee has faced. The Vols probably are the best offense the Crimson Tide has faced. But the game will be decided by Alabama’s offense against Tennessee’s defense, which hasn’t been good enough yet this season.
- Colin Gay, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 38, Tennessee 31
Another SEC top-15 test, one that has become the norm for Alabama. In a battle of two extremes, with Tennessee’s high-powered offense and porous defense, the Crimson Tide’s strength of schedule will prove extremely valuable with its three ranked wins in three weeks compared to Tennessee’s one ranked win all season.
- Chase Goodbread, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 38, Tennessee 28
Look for a high-scoring affair, especially if Tennessee’s rushing attack is moving the chains. Expect a rebound performance from UA WR Ryan Williams, who was a non-factor last week at Missouri.
Alabama football schedule 2025
Here is the Crimson Tide’s schedule and results.
- Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17
- Saturday, Sept. 6: No. 20 Alabama 73, UL Monroe 0
- Saturday, Sept. 13: No. 18 Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14
- Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 27: No. 16 Alabama 24, No. 3 Georgia 21*
- Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 11 Alabama 30, No. 17 Vanderbilt 14*
- Saturday, Oct. 11: No. 8 Alabama 27, No. 18 Missouri 24*
- Saturday, Oct. 18: vs. No. 15 Tennessee* | 7:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Saturday, Oct. 25: at South Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. No. 10 LSU*
- Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. No. 13 Oklahoma*
- Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Eastern Illinois | 2 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 29: at Auburn*
*Denotes SEC game
Tennessee football schedule 2025
Here is the Vols’ schedule and results.
- Saturday, Aug. 30: No. 18 Tennessee 45, Syracuse 26
- Saturday, Sept. 6: No. 17 Tennessee 72, East Tennessee State 17
- Saturday, Sept. 13: No. 3 Georgia 44, No. 15 Tennessee 41, OT*
- Saturday, Sept. 20: No. 15 Tennessee 56, UAB 24
- Saturday, Sept. 27: No. 15 Tennessee 41, Mississippi State 34, OT
- Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 11: No. 12 Tennessee 34, Arkansas 31
- Saturday, Oct. 18: at No. 6 Alabama* | 7:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Saturday, Oct. 25: at Kentucky* | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 1: vs. No. 13 Oklahoma*
- Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. New Mexico State | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 22: at Florida*
- Saturday, Nov. 29: at No. 18 Vanderbilt*
*Denotes SEC game