Tennessee

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

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

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.

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?

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.

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.

Opponent … Pass … Rush … Total … Points

Oklahoma … 194 … 151 … 345 …. 25

Arkansas … 158 … 174 … 332 … 14

Florida … 169 … 143 … 312 … 23

What’s the deal?

“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

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.

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

Vanderbilt women’s basketball beats Lady Vols for second-ever win in Knoxville

Published

10 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Vanderbilt women’s basketball beats Lady Vols for second-ever win in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE ― Vanderbilt women’s basketball won at Tennessee for only the second time in program history, beating the Lady Vols 87-77 at Food City Center on March 1.

The Commodores (27-3, 13-3) are the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins March 4 in Greenville, South Carolina.

The regular-season finale featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime. Vanderbilt went on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, then went a 10-0 run in the fourth to put the game away.

The Commodores, who shot 53% from the field, were led by Mikayla Blakes, who finished with 34 points. Aubrey Galvan had 24 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Sacha Washington had 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

“The season has been really special, to be able to end it here at Tennessee with a win and secure I think the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament,” coach Shea Ralph said. “So the double bye, it feels really cool. I’m happy for the team, but we are literally just getting started.”

Tennessee (16-12, 8-8) outrebounded Vanderbilt 32-29. The Commodores shot 17-for-20 on layups and had 27 fast-break points. Tennessee was 10-for-24 on layups.

Vanderbilt’s SEC Tournament seed

The SEC Tournament will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt will start play on March 6 and holds a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will play the No. 7 or No. 10 seed at approximately 5 p.m. CT.

Mikayla Blakes stats

Blakes put up another 30-point performance, her third straight and eighth in her past nine games. She added six rebounds and four assists, but also had six turnovers.

She made six 3-pointers, which ties her season high.

“She had 34 but her biggest buckets were when we had to happen,” Ralph said. “Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to happen. That kid shows up every time.”

Third straight rivalry win

Vanderbilt now has three straight wins over the Lady Vols, beating them last season in Nashville and once in the SEC Tournament.

“I think Tennessee is a great team,” Ralph said. “They will be for as long as women’s basketball exists. Playing here in front of this crowd is tough. It’s tough. So I was really proud of our team for being able to figure it out the second half and win, especially here at Tennessee.”

The Commodores have their most SEC wins in program history.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

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Tennessee

Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech live updates: Highlights, TV channel

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech live updates: Highlights, TV channel

ARLINGTON, TX — Tennessee baseball is trying to wrap up the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series on a good note against Virginia Tech today.

The 19th-ranked Vols (7-3) lost to UCLA and beat Arizona State for a split at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers. They’re finishing this trip against Virginia Tech (7-3), a game that began at 11:30 a.m. ET (FloCollege streaming).

Virginia Tech lost 10-0 by run rule to Texas A&M in Game 1 and lost 15-8 to Mississippi State in Game 2.

Lefthander Evan Blanco (1-1, 2.00 ERA) got the start for the Vols. Right-hander Ethan Grim (0-0, 3.75 ERA) started for Virginia Tech.

Follow live updates here from Arlington.

Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech live updates

Sam Grube struck out. Nick Lucorto singled to CF. Ethan Ball was hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. That ended UT starter Evan Blanco’s outing. Blanco allowed one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six, walked one and hit three batters, tossing 91 pitches.

Left-hander Mark Hindy replaced Blanco. Hindy struck out Treyson Hughes. Hudson Lutterman fouled out to end the threat. 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Chris Newstrom grounded out. Manny Marin flied out to CF. Ariel Antigua popped out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

Top 5th inning: Tennessee 1, Virginia Tech 1

UT starter Evan Blanco made quick work of the Hokies, getting a strikeout, groundout and flyout. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 4th inning: Tennessee 1, Virginia Tech 1

Levi Clark grounded out. Reese Chapman flied out to RCF. Tyler Myatt flied out to CF. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

Nick Lucorto hit a solo home run, driving a 1-2 pitch over the LF wall to tie the game 1-1. Ethan Ball was hit by pitch. Treyson Hughes fouled out. Hudson Letterman reached on fielder’s choice, but UT couldn’t turn the double play. Owen Petrich flied out to RF. 1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors, 1 LOB.

Chris Newstrom flied out. Manny Marin popped out. Ariel Antigua reached on an infield single when he hit a grounder to the first baseman and beat the pitcher to the bag. Jay Abernathy walked to put two runners on base with two outs. Henry Ford singled through the middle to score Antigua from second and move Abernathy to third. Vols lead 1-0. Blaine Brown struck out to end the inning. 1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB.

Anderson French struck out. Pete Daniel walked and advanced to 2B on a balk. Sam Gates lined out. Sam Grube grounded out, stranding a runner on 2B. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB.

Levi Clark smashed a long flyout to the CF warning track, traveling more than 400 feet. Reese Chapman struck out. Tyler Myatt struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

UT starter Evan Blanco only needed 12 pitches to get through a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. Treyson Hughes struck out. Hudson Lutterman flied out. Owen Pettrich struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

Bottom 1st inning: Tennessee 0, Virginia Tech

Jay Abernathy struck out. Henry Ford flied out. Blaine Brown struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

Top 1st inning: Virginia Tech 0, Tennessee 0

UT starter Evan Blanco hit leadoff hitter Sam Grube with a pitch. Nic Locurto flied out to RF. Grube was thrown by stealing by catcher Levi Clark. Ethan Ball struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.

What channel is Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech on today?

TV channel: FloSports app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, etc.
Live stream: FloCollege streaming (for subscribers)

Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech time today

11:30 a.m. ET at Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas)

Tennessee baseball vs Virginia Tech probable pitchers

Tennessee: LHP Evan Blanco (1-1, 2.00 ERA)
Virginia Tech: TBD

Tennessee in Amegy Bank College Baseball Series schedule

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee 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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Tennessee senator with Iranian roots calls for diplomacy following U.S.-Israel attack on Iran

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee senator with Iranian roots calls for diplomacy following U.S.-Israel attack on Iran

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A Tennessee state senator who is half-Iranian is calling on the Trump administration to pursue diplomacy and involve Congress following Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari(Action News 5)

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Memphis Democrat who serves as Senate Minority Leader, said the strikes have stirred complicated emotions within the Persian-American community.

“My father came to Memphis to go to the University of Memphis in 1977 from Iran. It’s always been a country that I’ve heard beautiful things about, but I’ve certainly not been able to experience it because of the regime that’s in place,” Akbari said.

Akbari said Iranians have long been waiting for an end to the authoritarian dictatorship in the country, but the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has left questions about how Iran will stabilize in the aftermath of the attacks.

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader,... — In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to a group of people and officials in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 21, 2025.(Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

“There’s hope but there’s also fear. There’s excitement but there’s also this deep sense of anxiety. What will this look like? We’ve seen in other Middle Eastern countries when regimes are removed and there’s this terrible period of instability,” she said.

Akbari said she hopes she will one day be able to visit the country her father was born in.

“That’s literally the other half of my heritage, and I think for all Iranian Americans, for Iranians who have left Iran and come to America, they hope for a free Iran,” she said.

Persian American community(Action News 5)

Akbari urged the administration to proceed deliberately and avoid casualties among both American troops and Iranian civilians.

“There is a key difference between the Iranian governmental regime and the people of Iran,” she said. “Keeping their humanity in mind, making sure there’s proper aid, and also trying to mitigate any sort of civilian loss of life.”

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