Alabama
Josh Heupel could be third coach to beat Nick Saban’s Alabama back-to-back. Who did it first?
Watch Tennessee football’s Hendon Hooker get emotional with mom after upsetting Alabama
Tennessee football QB Hendon Hooker had a special moment with his mom after the Vols’ stunning win over Alabama on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Gentry Estes, Knoxville News Sentinel
How good has Nick Saban been for Alabama football since arriving in 2007?
Only two coaches have beaten the seven-time national champion in back-to-back seasons during his tenure in Tuscaloosa: Auburn coach Hugh Freeze (while at Ole Miss in 2014-15) and former LSU coach Les Miles (2010-11).
Tennessee’s Josh Heupel will look to join the rare group of coaches to defeat Saban and the Crimson Tide in back-to-back seasons when No. 8 Alabama (6-1, 3-1 SEC) battles the No. 15 Vols (5-1, 2-1) on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
More: Tennessee football needed 50 to beat Alabama last season. Half that might do Saturday | Adams
Last season, Heupel and the Vols defeated Alabama 52-49 on a last-second field goal by Chase McGrath, ending a 15-game losing streak in the series.
Coaches to beat Nick Saban’s Alabama in consecutive seasons
LSU coach Les Miles 2010-11
Miles and LSU won back-to-back games against Alabama in 2010-11, but the Crimson Tide got revenge in the end with a national championship in 2011.
No. 6 Alabama led 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter against the No. 10 Tigers in 2010, but LSU scored 14 unanswered to take a 24-10 lead. The Crimson Tide scored a late touchdown to pull within three points with under four minutes left but ultimately couldn’t complete the fourth-quarter comeback.
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Quarterback Greg McElroy was 21 of 34 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, the older brother of NFL All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, threw for 141 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers ran for 225 yards as a team, led by running back Stevan Ridley with 88.
In 2011, Alabama ranked No. 1 and LSU ranked No. 2 in what was billed as a “Game of the Century.” The Tigers carved out a 9-6 win on the road in Tuscaloosa.
There were no touchdowns scored in the game and only 534 combined yards of offense between both teams.
More: For Tennessee football vs. Alabama rivalry to continue, the solution is obvious | Toppmeyer
LSU tied the game at 6-6 early in the fourth quarter on a field goal, which stood until overtime. The Tigers kicked another in overtime to earn the 9-6 win. The Tigers played two quarterbacks — Jefferson and Jarrett Lee — who combined for only 94 yards and two interceptions.
Running back Trent Richardson led the way for the Crimson Tide, with 23 carries for 89 yards and five receptions for 80 yards. Quarterback AJ McCarron was unspectacular, completing 16 of 28 passes for 199 yards with an interception.
Alabama, however, despite not going to the SEC Championship Ganme, rematched No. 1 LSU in the national championship and shut out the Tigers 21-0.
More: The untold story of Josh Heupel’s cigar box after Tennessee football beat Alabama in 2022
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze 2014-15
In 2014, No. 1 Alabama headed to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the 11th-ranked Rebels and fell 23-17.
The Crimson Tide took a 17-10 lead into the fourth quarter, but Ole Miss scored 13 unanswered on back-to-back touchdown passes by Bo Wallace, both of which came with under six minutes to go. Wallace threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
That year was Blake Sims’ lone season as Alabama’s starting quarterback. Sims completed 19 of 31 passes for 228 yards with an interception and a rushing touchdown in the loss. Running back T.J. Yeldon ran for 123 yards on 20 carries, but it wasn’t enough.
The win ended Ole Miss’ 10-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide as the Rebels started 5-0 for the first time since 1962.
Alabama went on to lose 42-35 in the College Football Playoff semifinal to Ohio State to finish 12-2. For Ole Miss, it went on to lose three SEC games before falling to TCU 42-3 in the Peach Bowl to finish 9-4.
Nonetheless, the Rebels completed their back-to-back wins against Saban as if destiny was on their side.
In 2015, No. 15 Ole Miss forced five turnovers with two long touchdowns in the 43-37 win over No. 2 Alabama. First, the Rebels scored a 66-yard touchdown on a desperation throw that was deflected and fell perfectly into the arms of Quincy Adeboyejo in the third quarter. Then, they scored a 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter where quarterback Chad Kelly was originally deemed past the line of scrimmage, but the call was reversed after review.
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker finished the game 21 of 45 passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions, adding 58 rushing yards and another touchdown despite entering in the second quarter in favor of starter Cooper Bateman. That season’s Heisman winner Derrick Henry ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
Alabama scored back-to-back touchdowns to close the gap to 43-37 late in the fourth quarter. The score held up in the end. With under three minutes to go, Coker and the Crimson Tide had a chance to take the lead, but Coker threw an interception to effectively end UA’s chances.
Alabama finished the season 14-1, defeating Clemson 45-40 in the national championship. Ole Miss finished 10-3 and defeated Oklahoma State 48-20 in the Sugar Bowl.
Alabama
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COLLEGE STATION, TX — Nate Oats’ continued faith in Chris Youngblood was rewarded Saturday. The fifth-year guard had his best performance of the season during No. 5 Alabama’s gritty 94-88 win over No. 10 Texas A&M, helping the Crimson Tide notch a massive top-10 victory.
Youngblood finished with a season-high 14 points and tallied five rebounds, one assist and a steal in just 18 minutes on the floor. He was one of four double-digit scorers and made a few big shots in the second half to help Alabama survive on the road.
Most critical for Youngblood, and Alabama’s ability to come away with a win, was his 3 of 6 clip from the 3-point line. While the Aggies made things difficult for the Tide with its pressure defense and ability on the glass, Alabama shot the ball superbly well from beyond the arc in the first half, going 10 of 22 from deep.
Youngblood was responsible for a pair of those makes. His three total triples are the most he’s made in a game for Alabama and he finished in double figures for just the second time this season.
“It’s the best feeling,” Youngblood after the game. “But what really helped me do that was just getting lost in the game. Like [Oats] said, the blue-collar points and I knew if I focus on that the offense, that’ll come.”
Youngblood’s focus on the blue-collar plays was crucial as the Tide cooled down slightly from 3 in the second half. He played a vital role in Alabama’s 8-0 run that pushed its lead to 15 points with just under 11 minutes remaining. Youngblood first drilled a 3 to make it 65-55, then stole the ball from Aggies guard Zhuric Phelps, converting an and-1 layup on the other end.
When Texas A&M gutted and ground its way back into the game, it was Youngblood who answered the call when Alabama needed it most. Oats has previously praised Youngblood for his ability on the glass, and he grabbed a big rebound off a Phelps miss with 2:51 remaining and the Tide up by 3. He did the same thing on the offensive end for Alabama, putting himself on the line and making two free throws to put the Tide up 90-84.
“I told him we were gonna get him some shots this game,” Oats said. “We kind of tried to put him up with the press to have some other guys handle it, get him open. He goes 3 of 6. He made a bunch of tough plays too. He’s a winner. He’s a competitor. He’s a leader. You want him in.”
Alabama has high expectations for Youngblood. He was billed as a player who would make a big impact on the offensive end after he averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 41.6% from 3, winning Co-American Conference Player of the Year at South Florida.
Youngblood suffered an ankle injury this offseason after transferring to Alabama. He missed the Tide’s first nine games of the season and has struggled to regain that form since coming back. Being able to step up on the road in one of the Tide’s biggest games of the season will do wonders for Youngblood’s confidence going forward and his performance showcased what kind of a difference-maker he can be on both ends of the floor.
“I thought he did the best job on Phelps tonight and that’s with him still not 100% because he’s still trying to get back from the ankle surgery,” Oats said. “So, his competitiveness, his winning attitude and then, boy it was great to see him drop some shots tonight.”
Going forward, Alabama will continue to depend on Youngblood’s leadership and ability, especially with fellow veteran guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. out for the season with a torn Achilles.
Oats’ confidence in Youngblood never wavered, and that faith was re-paid in a big way Saturday as Alabama notched another big win in the race for the SEC title. As Alabama looks ahead to No. 23 Ole Miss on Tuesday, Oats is confident that Youngblood’s performance isn’t a blip, but a sign that he’s turned a corner at a critical time for the Tide.
“We knew what we were getting with him from South Florida. He’s the conference player of the year. He shoots at a really high clip. He just had to get off that surgery, get himself back comfortable.
Alabama will take on Ole Miss at 6 p.m. CT Tuesday night inside Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN U.
South Alabama on Saturday added a transfer portal commitment from former South Carolina offensive lineman Ni Mansell.
Mansell (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) played in two games for the Gamecocks this past season after redshirting in 2023 due to injury and has one season of eligibility remaining. A native of Anderson, S.C., he played three seasons at Mercer — starting 10 games at guard in 2022, with the 2020 season not counting against his eligibility due to COVID.
Mansell (whose full first name is pronounced “Nye-ju-won”) is South Alabama’s fifth portal commitment in the current cycle, joining linebacker Tre’Mon Henry (Southern Miss), defensive end Tirrell Johnson (Harding), wide receiver Brendan Jenkins (Samford) and defensive back Dallas Young (Arkansas). The Jaguars are expected to add a few more portal transfers before spring semester classes begin on Monday.
South Alabama went 7-6 in 2024, beating Eastern Michigan 30-23 in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
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