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Tennessee upsets Alabama in SEC thriller; second loss of season puts Crimson Tide's playoff hopes in jeopardy

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Tennessee upsets Alabama in SEC thriller; second loss of season puts Crimson Tide's playoff hopes in jeopardy


The Southeastern Conference showdown between seventh-ranked Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee was one of the most anticipated games on the Week 8 college football slate. 

The matchup lived up to the hype and went down to the wire. 

The Crimson Tide fell 24-17 and dropped to 5-2 on the year, which put a dent in their College Football Playoff hopes. 

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Tennessee signal-caller Nico Iamaleava got off to sluggish starts. Volunteers fans and presumably the coaching staff held their collective breath when Iamaleava went down after he was tackled hard. But the redshirt freshman returned to action after he was evaluated in the medical tent on the sidelines.

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Nico Iamaleava (8) of the Tennessee Volunteers throws the ball as he is hit by Que Robinson (34) of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. (Butch Dill/Getty Images)

While the quarterback’s return appeared to give the Volunteers an instant boost, he quickly threw his lone interception of the day.

DUKE FOOTBALL TOPS FLORIDA STATE FOR FIRST WIN IN SERIES IN 23 GAMES

Chris Brazzell II made a diving 16-yard touchdown catch from Iamaleava midway through the fourth quarter. Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

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Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer during a game against Tennessee Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. (Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Alabama has its work cut out for it the rest of the season. Milroe finished the game with 239 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Alabama rushed for just 89 yards compared to Tennessee’s 214.

Trailing 21-17, Alabama took over possession on its own 30 with 2:25 left in regulation. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on wide receiver Kendrick Law stalled the Crimson Tide’s drive and allowed Tennessee to stretch its lead to seven with a field goal on its next possession.

Tennessee overcame three turnovers in the first half and trailed 7-0 at halftime.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel calls his team over after an interception during a game against Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

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The Volunteers grabbed a 14-10 lead, their first of the game, with one minute left in the third quarter. Sampson barreled in from three yards after Iamaleava connected with Dont’e Thornton for 55 yards to the Alabama 3.

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Early in the fourth quarter, Alabama answered the Vols’ score with a 7-yard touchdown run from Justice Haynes to go up 17-14. Germie Bernard set it up with a 28-yard reception from Milroe.

The Crimson Tide will look to bounce back next week when they host Missouri. Tennessee has a bye week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2026 Tennessee Football Position Preview: Running Backs | Rocky Top Insider

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2026 Tennessee Football Position Preview: Running Backs | Rocky Top Insider


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Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop. Photo via Ryan Sylvia | RTI.

A position group that has stability at the top but questions behind the starter is running back. DeSean Bishop returns as the unquestioned starter after a dominant redshirt-sophomore year, but both the pieces behind him a year ago that split the load have departed.

Now, it’ll be a battle for reps between young returners Daune Morris and Justin Baker and Tulane transfer Javin Gordon. Tennessee has rotated up to three backs a game, as well, making a chance for two to be in a game-by-game position to contribute.

Bishop, the star of the room, has expectations that he could play his way into an NFL draft pick this upcoming year. This past season, he took 182 carries for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. That was good for a really strong average of 5.9 yards per tote.

More From RTI: Tennessee Left Off Eight-Team List of SEC College Football Playoff Contenders

Gordon, the Tulane transfer, joins after his true freshman year with the Green Wave. While it wasn’t at the SEC level, he was very productive, posting 128 carries, 516 yards and five touchdowns.

Morris and Baker return after limited roles. Morris was the fourth back, meaning he got more run than Baker when injuries did occur. He finished his freshman year with 35 carries, 133 yards and a touchdown while also returning punts. Baker took 14 carries for 43 yards.

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“It’s huge because you look at the production, you got a guy that understands what he’s walking into in terms of seeing it week in and week out in terms of the caliber of teams that we’re going against,” Tennessee running backs coach DeRail Sims said in the spring about Bishop returning. “His understanding of what it’s like when the game’s on the line and having to go out there and make plays in all three facets of the game, in running the ball, the protection piece, and the passing game. So it’s huge having Bish back.”

The other pieces of the running back room are three-star freshman Will Rajecki and redshirt-senior Hunter Barnes.



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I-24 traffic to be impacted as Middle Tennessee Electric conducts electrical line work

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I-24 traffic to be impacted as Middle Tennessee Electric conducts electrical line work


MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – Traffic on Interstate 24 will be impacted Sunday as Middle Tennessee Electric crews conduct electrical line work.

MTE said crews will be performing electrical line work across I-24 near Exit 76 in Murfreesboro Sunday, June 28.

“The project will require one full interstate traffic stoppage and multiple rolling roadblocks beginning at sunrise,” MTE said. “The work is expected to take approximately five to six hours to complete.”

MTE said Guardian Traffic Control will assist with traffic management.

The work could be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.

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Big Truck Day held at Bristol Tennessee City Hall

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Big Truck Day held at Bristol Tennessee City Hall


Kids in Bristol got the chance to climb in some of their favorite trucks on Saturday.

Bristol Parks and Recreation hosted “Big Truck Day” at Bristol Tennessee City Hall.

The event included some of the kids’ favorite big trucks, a Bristol Motor Speedway pace car, face paint, and free popsicles.

Organizers say it’s great for kids to be able to see who’s behind those big trucks.

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Parks and recreation officials say you can keep updated with their events on their Facebook page by clicking here.



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