Tennessee

The Alabama-Tennessee factors that’ll decide rivalry game

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2024

The Alabama-Tennessee factors that’ll decide rivalry game

As far as Alabama-Tennessee games go, this one’s a real brain teaser.

Two weeks ago, these two entered games as top-5 teams and multi-touchdown favorites only to lose. Neither looked particularly good a week later when they nearly blew home games as double-digit favorites.

So somebody’s going to break the cycle … and their rivals’ playoff path as they resume this old-school rivalry with huge modern-day implications.

Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) opened as a 2-point favorite in point spread that’s grown to three as the week progressed. That’s notable since Tennessee is the home team that took down the Crimson Tide the last time they met in Neyland Stadium.

It’s a meeting of a struggling Vol offense and a stumbling Tide defense.

And a solid Tide offense and a strong Vol defense.

So who blinks?

Best case scenario for Alabama: Strike fast, slow down

The evolution of college football is occurring right before our eyes. The days of 16-18 possession games are gone. Alabama had the ball 10 times in each of its last two games. Vanderbilt beat Alabama two weeks ago with just nine possessions.

That means every touch is critical. Alabama gave away two possessions in Nashville and lost by five. Last week, it took four from South Carolina and won by two after beating Georgia by seven after grabbing four takeaways.

We say all that to say this: A few plays here and there could make the difference in a game like this. Alabama was gashed by the big play in Neyland Stadium two years ago but returned the favor last October in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide is fifth nationally with seven plays of 50-plus yards. Tennessee’s defense hasn’t allowed a single one in six games this season, so something has to give. South Carolina brought a smart plan to limit Ryan Williams to his lowest output of the season (four catches, 32 yards and his first touchdown-free game of the season).

With the Vol offense struggling, popping a few big plays over the top will pressure the home team.

Speaking of that Tennessee offense, it’s not like that group isn’t capable. They’ve shown they have the capability for fireworks and Alabama’s been susceptible to breakdowns the last few weeks.

The key here is to slow momentum before it builds. This is a Tennessee offense that likes to ramp up the speed after a successful first-down play, rolling the snowball downhill fast. Florida, however, impacted that pace a week ago in a game Tennessee won in overtime but started painfully slow. The Vols averaged just 2.7 yards on 13 first-down running plays and just 6.3 yards a passing attempt.

That helped keep Tennessee from scoring until late in the third quarter of a game that ended 23-17 in overtime. The Vols had the ball 13 times in regulation, scoring just three of those possessions while going 3-and-out five times.

Worse case for Alabama: A dirty white uniform

Alabama had a world of trouble slowing South Carolina’s star pass rusher Kyle Kennard last week. He finished with two sacks plus the pressure that forced Jalen Milroe into an intentional grounding for a safety. He was a problem.

James Pearce Jr. could be even more of one. The star Vol defensive lineman recorded a sack/fumble last year against Milroe deep in Alabama territory. After Tennessee scooped the fumble, the guests kicked a field goal to take a 13-0 lead. Those are the nightmare scenarios that got Alabama at Vanderbilt and nearly did the same last week against South Carolina.

If Milroe leaves Neyland Stadium with that white road uniform all stained up, Alabama’s in trouble. The Vols will be without linebacker Keenan Pili, the play caller of the defense who is out for the season after an injury last week. That’s a huge loss for Tennessee but there’s plenty of firepower remaining on a defense that ranks fourth nationally in points allowed (10.7) and second in yards allowed (249.8).

The Vols also haven’t faced an offense with as much big-play potential as Alabama. The Tide also haven’t seen a defense as solid top-to-bottom coming off one of its most inconsistent performances of the season against the Gamecocks.

Prediction: Tennessee 21, Alabama 20

This one is as much of a coin toss as it comes but Tennessee’s at home, so the Vols get the edge in a rock fight.

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

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Tennessee

Everything Tennessee Football HC Josh Heupel Said During Wednesday’s Media Availability

Published

7 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Press Room

Everything Tennessee Football HC Josh Heupel Said During Wednesday’s Media Availability

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel high-fives fans at the Vol Walk before a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on November 1, 2025. / Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Tennessee

Tennessee provides $5 million emergency food funding during government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits

Published

1 day ago

November 5, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee provides million emergency food funding during government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee is providing $5 million in emergency funding to food banks as the government shutdown continues to block federal food assistance for low-income families across the state.

The funding comes from TennCare reserve funds and will go to Second Harvest Food Bank, which will distribute the money to food banks statewide based on the number of SNAP recipients in each community.

“It’s an initial response to an immediate need,” Gov. Bill Lee said.

The emergency measure comes as food pantries report overwhelming demand. The Well’s food pantry in Spring Hill served as many families in one hour as they typically see in an entire day.

“It’s hard to see hungry families, senior citizens who have no other alternatives except to wait in the long line at a food pantry,” said Shelly Sassen, CEO of The Well.

SNAP benefits, the federal program that helps low-income families buy groceries, stopped during the shutdown, creating a food emergency across Tennessee.

“They ought to open the government now,” Gov. Lee said.

Even if the Trump administration follows a judge’s order to unlock emergency funds that could provide at least half the normal SNAP amount, Gov. Lee warns the process won’t be immediate.

“But if they release partial funding, the complexity of loading cards with a different formula than before is going to be difficult,” Gov. Lee explained.

The state’s emergency funding represents “the sort of most streamlined way to get dollars to people out, even in rural areas,” Gov. Lee added.

Food pantry volunteers describe the emotional toll of seeing increased need firsthand.

“We’re telling some folks to come back later in the day,” said one volunteer at The Well.

“When you’re here looking people in the eyes and see that they are hungry, that they need some help. That’s what really hits,” another volunteer said.

You are invited to make monetary donations, but Second Harvest Food Bank would also greatly appreciate food donations. Here is a list of suggested items:

Peanut Butter
Canned Meat (Chicken or Tuna)
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Canned Meals (Entree or Soup)
Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Cereal
Rice
Beans (Canned or Dry)

You can drop off food donations at the following locations:

Second Harvest Nashville — 331 Great Circle Road Nashville, TN
Second Harvest Symrna — 1958 Almaville Road Smyrna, TN
Second Harvest Camden — 69 Benton Industrial Road Camden, TN
Any Middle Tennessee Kroger location

You can find your nearest Kroger location by clicking here.

Are you someone being affected by not receiving SNAP benefits? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@Newschannel5.com

Vandy’s band of misfits turns heads with 7-1 start

This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys – young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team’s success has stolen the spotlight – what I love about Steve Layman’s story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, “we all have scuff marks.” This team proves perseverance pays off!

– Carrie Sharp

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