Alabama
Alabama at Tennessee: Offensive player projections for Third Saturday in October
One of college football’s most storied rivalries will be renewed on Saturday. It’s the Third Saturday in October, meaning Alabama and Tennessee will have their cigars ready – and the offensive player projections are set, according to PrizePicks.
The offenses are sure to be on full display when the two teams square off at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jalen Milroe and Nico Iamaleava are both coming off grind-it-out victories a week ago, and will now prepare for the intensity of a rivalry affair on Rocky Top.
For Tennessee, the running game has seen plenty of success this year. Dylan Sampson enters Week 8 with 116.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks ninth in the nation. He’s also coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances, giving him plenty of momentum.
As for Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s leading receiver is electric freshman Ryan Williams. He enters the matchup against Tennessee with 576 yards through the first six games of his college career, making him a weapon to watch in Saturday afternoon’s affair.
Alabama and Tennessee will square off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Here are the full offensive player projections for the game, according to PrizePicks.
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Pass Yards: 232.5
Rush Yards: 48.5
Interceptions: 0.5
Jalen Milroe continues to be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation entering Week 8. He heads into the Tennessee matchup with 1,483 passing yards, 319 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns through six games.
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee
Pass Yards: 198.5
Rush Yards: 19.5
Through his first six games as Tennessee’s starter, Nico Iamaleava is averaging just over 203 passing yards as the Vols lean into the running game. His projection for Saturday’s game against Alabama is set at 198.5, according to PrizePicks, along with 19.5 rush yards.
Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 68.5
Receptions: 4.5
The 17-year-old Ryan Williams continues to take college football by storm as a true freshman. His big-play ability makes him a top threat for Alabama, and his projection for the Tennessee matchup is set at 68.5 receiving yards, according to PrizePicks.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Rush Yards: 98.5
Receiving Yards: 11.5
Dylan Sampson continues to cement himself as one of the top running backs in the nation this year after yet another 100-yard performance. He ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including the walk-off winner in overtime to defeat Florida in Week 7.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 53.5
Receptions: 4
After shining under Kalen DeBoer at Washington last year, Germie Bernard is making a similar impact at Alabama as one of Jalen Milroe’s top targets. He ranks second on the Crimson Tide with 309 receiving yards and is coming off his biggest game yet with 89 yards against South Carolina last week.
Squirrel White, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 39.5
Nico Iamaleava’s top target this year, Squirrel White leads Tennessee in receptions and is second on the team in receiving yards. He had a huge game against Florida, totaling five receptions for 71 yards to lead the Vols, and PrizePicks sets his projection at 39.5 yards against Alabama on Saturday.
Jam Miller, RB, Alabama
Rush Yards: 41.5
Receiving Yards: 10.5
The leader in the Alabama running backs room, Jam Miller enters Week 8 as the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher with 360 yards. While Jalen Milroe has taken more carries, Miller gets most of the work in the backfield and led the way with 42 yards against South Carolina last week.
Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 34.5
Receptions: 3
Ranking second on Tennessee in receptions, Chris Brazzell was the Volunteers’ second-leading receiver last week against Florida. He had 49 yards in the overtime victory, and his projection against Alabama is set at 34.5, according to PrizePicks.
Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama
Rush Yards: 29.5
Sitting behind Jam Miller, Justice Haynes is Alabama’s third-leading rusher this season with 249 yards entering Week 8. He rounds out the three-headed monster in the running game with Miller and Jalen Milroe, but still plays an important role in throwing different looks at opposing defenses.
Bru McCoy, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 22.5
Bru McCoy is keeping pace with Chris Brazzell on Tennessee’s receiving yards list entering the Alabama game. He has 209 yards on 14 receptions, and PrizePicks sets his receiving yards projection at 22.5 on Saturday.
CJ Dippre, TE, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 22.5
While not as much of a vertical threat as Alabama’s receivers, CJ Dippre has been a good safety blanket for Jalen Milroe as the receiver corps gets healthy. He enters Week 8 with 10 receptions for 121 yards, showing the role he plays in Kalen DeBoer’s offense through the first part of the year.
Alabama and Tennessee will meet for the 106th time on Saturday, and the 32nd straight Third Saturday in October. It’s one of the SEC’s biggest rivalries – and cigar smoke is sure to flow, one way or another, when the clock hits zeroes.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 70-year-old Robertsdale, Alabama, man was found guilty by a federal jury in Pensacola after prosecutors said he tried to entice a child online and then traveled to meet the child for sex in Pensacola.
David A. Girard was convicted in federal court of attempted enticement of a minor, traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of illicit sexual conduct, and committing a felony involving a minor while being a registered sex offender, according to the release.
The release states that Evidence at trial showed that in October 2025, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement partners conducted an undercover operation aimed at identifying people soliciting minors online for sex.
On Oct. 17, 2025, Girard began communicating with someone he believed was a 14-year-old child, according to trial evidence.
Prosecutors said he described sexual acts he wanted to perform and arranged a meeting location in Pensacola.
When Girard traveled to the agreed-upon location to meet the purported child, he was arrested, according to the release.
Electronic evidence seized under a search warrant confirmed Girard had communicated with the person he believed was a child and traveled to meet him, according to trial evidence.
Girard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison on Count 1, and up to 30 years in prison on Count 2.
He also faces a mandatory 10-year prison term on Count 3, consecutive to any sentence imposed on Count 1.
The investigation involved the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WALA) – The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo begins Friday morning on Dauphin Island, following a kickoff party Thursday night that featured the Captain T-Bone’s Liar’s Contest.
Rodeo contestants, their families and others attended the event, where participants competed to tell their best fish tales.
Cody Ward, vice president of publicity for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, said the stories are always a highlight.
“I don’t like to speculate too much on the lies, there are a lot of them, they come and go, and they are great all the time,” Ward said. “Make sure you’re out here, check them out, support these people, they love to do this and we love to hear their fish tales.”
Mike Eubanks has been fishing in the rodeo since 1982. He’s been to the liars contest many times and says he’s heard some great ones over the years.
“They can come up with some good ones. I don’t know which one was the craziest but the winner every year deserves it I promise you. Those judges have a hard time because they are some good ones,” Eubanks said.
The rodeo gets underway Friday with a cannon blast at 5 a.m. and runs through the weekend.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Soccer is rapidly growing in Alabama and there aren’t enough officials to accommodate.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup had an impact on the growth of the sport.
“Instead of the World Cup arriving in America, America has arrived at the World Cup,” AHSAA Soccer Officials Coordinator Cedric Thomas said. “Watch parties across the county has showcased how America has reacted to the beautiful game.”
The 2026 World Cup reminded fans within North Alabama how special the game of soccer is and the game is rapidly growing in the Valley.
“It’s larger than any football program,” Alabama State Youth Referee Administrator Thomas Russell said. “We have more recreational soccer players than all of football combined.”
The rapid growth has created issues across the state. The biggest issue is the lack of soccer officials in Alabama.
There are around 900 certified soccer referees in Alabama, but the state needs about 1,500 for all games at all levels to operate smoothly.
“You cannot have an official game without officials,” Thomas said. “You can see the impact on the kids faces when only one or two referees show up and you need a third to make it an official game.”
The impact goes beyond the whistle. Referees in soccer have the ability to teach young athletes during games.
“We don’t coach them in the game, but we can teach them what they can and can’t do,” Russell said. “You can see a good referee who works with the kids and interacts with the kids. One that doesn’t just call a foul and go away.”
Soccer is highlighted on all levels in Huntsville. From youth soccer to AHSAA Soccer State Championships and the Huntsville City Football Club.
“I would say that the Huntsville Sports Commission and the city has solidified whatever that vision they had for soccer.”
More officials are needed for the sport to grow in North Alabama and across the state.
To find out how to become an official:
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Copyright 2026 WAFF. All rights reserved.
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