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A weird Alabama-Tennessee week arrives with a limp rather than swagger

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A weird Alabama-Tennessee week arrives with a limp rather than swagger


The Third Saturday has been a rivalry of streaks. One team dominates a decade (or 1½) in a row then swaps.

One such cycle closed in 2022 when Tennessee ended Alabama’s string of 15 straight wins before the Crimson Tide returned the favor last year.

Two years later, they’ll reunite in Knoxville in very weird places.

It’s hard to say who’s riding in with tailwind in the effort to start another streak in what’s looking more like an era of parity rather than rivalry control.

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Once two of the hottest teams exiting September, both stumble into Neyland Stadium after two odd Saturdays in October.

After suffering twin road upsets to unranked teams last week, each bizarrely played home escapes against two more unranked teams on Saturday.

Alabama’s two spooky Saturdays included the road loss at Vanderbilt and a heart-stopping 27-25 win over South Carolina. A defensive disaster in Nashville was followed by general ineptitude in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Anyone reading this is familiar with the Crimson Tide’s struggles in recent games.

So, what’s the deal in Knoxville?

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It’s mostly about the offense that averaged 64 points in its first three games and 22 since. Of course, the level of competition rose from beating up on Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State.

Where Alabama’s defense is among the league’s worst in points allowed in SEC games, Tennessee suddenly can’t score.

This looks like a showdown of a very stoppable object meeting an equally moveable force.

A 25-15 Tennessee road win at Oklahoma was the first of three offensive performances ending with similar numbers. The Vols finished with between 345 and 312 yards in each of its three SEC games after rolling up 740 against Kent State and 718 against Chattanooga.

As with anything, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

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Tennessee is nowhere near as explosive as it was against the cupcakes, but it is probably better than the low 300s in total yardage.

A 19-14 Vol loss at Arkansas on the same day Alabama lost to Vanderbilt took some of the outside attention away from this Third Saturday game. Georgia at Texas is the premier game on the national stage now.

Then Saturday, hours after Alabama’s narrow win over South Carolina, Tennessee’s offense was even more invisible against Florida.

Like the Tide, Tennessee escaped the second Saturday trap. It required overtime (winning 23-17) after going without points until 2:57 remained in the third quarter. The win could’ve easily been a Gator blowout if the visitors didn’t go 0-for-4 scoring touchdowns on first-half red zone trips.

A look at the Vols’ last three offensive games, statistically.

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Opponent … Pass … Rush … Total … Points

Oklahoma … 194 … 151 … 345 …. 25

Arkansas … 158 … 174 … 332 … 14

Florida … 169 … 143 … 312 … 23

What’s the deal?

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“I don’t think we’re far off, you know what I mean,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told reporters after the Florida game. “But, man, it’s not just the pass game, it’s the run game, too. Missed assignments, fundamentals, technique. It’s guys [are] open, we don’t hit it. Guys [are] open, we’re getting pressured. It’s everybody taking their turn, and at some point we’ve got to say, you know what I mean, we’re going to man up and do our job and make this thing go the way that it’s capable of.”

Talent isn’t the issue. This is clearly a capable group. That also sounds a lot like the situation in Tuscaloosa with the Alabama defense.

The last three games haven’t been anything to remember for them, either.

Opp. … Pass … Rush … Total … Points

Georgia … 439 … 80 … 519 … 34

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Vandy … 252 … 166 … 418 … 40

S. Car. … 242 … 131 … 374 … 25

In conference games, Alabama’s allowing 437.0 yards per game. That’s good for 15th of 16 SEC teams.

The story isn’t much better for the Tennessee offense. Its 329.7-yard average against SEC teams is 14th of 16.

That said, Alabama’s offense is fifth in SEC games and Tennessee’s defense is sixth.

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Statistics aside, the eye test isn’t impressive for either as they head to Neyland Stadium on Saturday. They were cruising in September but middle of the pack since then.

You’re looking at teams who lost as double-digit favorites on the first Saturday of October and then escaped near-death experiences as double-digit home favorites on the second.

What’s to come on the third?

In this wildly unpredictable season, this one’s as tough to forecast as any. In a rivalry as streaky as any, you’ll see two teams Saturday eager to end their suddenly sagging play with pride and playoff hopes at stake.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival


The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.

Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”

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Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) pulls on his jersey during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.

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He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.

“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target


The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.

The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.

The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.

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Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.

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Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.

Jaquez White’s 2025 Season

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Troy Trojans cornerback Jaquez White (8) tackles Clemson Tigers running back Adam Randall (8) Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal


Tennessee defensive lineman Josh Schell has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Jan. 6.

Schell had a short stint at Tennessee after transferring from Grand Valley State in April. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season.

Schell played more than 100 snaps, mostly on special teams. He never cracked the rotation on the defensive line.

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Schell spent three seasons at Grand Valley State, including a redshirt year, and one season at Tennessee. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is from Camden, New Jersey. His best college season was 2024 at Grand Valley State, when he played 13 games and recorded 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He was also a pitcher on the Grand Valley State baseball game in the 2023 season.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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