GAME RECAP: No. 14 Tennessee Takes Down No. 6 Alabama 26-10 in Knoxville, First Win Over Tide Since 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Neyland Stadium spent Saturday afternoon in orange and white and finally made the Third Saturday in October feel like home again.

No. 14 Tennessee closed out a 26-10 win over No. 6 Alabama, a rivalry result built on four Cooper Ranvier field goals, a relentless ground game from DeSean Bishop, and a defense that never let the Crimson Tide get comfortable. The Volunteers improve to 6-1 and 3-1 in the SEC. Alabama falls to 5-2 and 3-2. It is Tennessee’s first victory over Alabama since 2024 and the Vols’ third straight win over the Tide at Neyland, a statement that the program is ready for the second half of the season.

Tennessee opened the way a Josh Heupel team is supposed to open a hostile Saturday when the building is full. Three field goals before the first quarter was done. Ranvier hit from 29, 33, and 41 yards. Alabama 0, Tennessee 9.

Alabama answered the only way Kalen DeBoer’s offense was going to answer early — with the legs of the quarterback. One play, 19 yards. Keelon Russell scrambled in from 19 yards out at 10:13 of the second. Conor Talty converted. 7-9. The Tide had life.

Ranvier answered with a 34-yarder to push it to 7-12. Talty closed the half with a 42-yard field goal as the clock hit zeroes. 10-12. Alabama had the last points of the half. The lead was not enough.

The third quarter belonged to Bishop. Nine plays, 60 yards. He finished it from five yards out at 5:05. Ranvier made it 19-10. That was the first touchdown of the afternoon for the Volunteers, and it was the one that changed the math.

The fourth quarter was a grind. Fifteen plays, 72 yards, more than nine minutes. Bishop converted a fourth-and-inches and then scored from five yards out again with just over three minutes left. 26-10. Alabama never scored in the second half.

The box score is the part that will travel on Sunday. Tennessee finished with 338 total yards (197 pass, 141 rush) and controlled the clock roughly 35 minutes to 23. Alabama managed just 194 yards (134 pass, 60 rush). George MacIntyre went 21-of-31 for 197 yards and an interception. Bishop carried 30 times for 147 yards and both touchdowns. Mike Matthews led the receivers with seven catches for 85 yards. Keelon Russell finished roughly 17-of-25 for 134 yards, an interception, and the rushing score. Cooper Ranvier was perfect on four field goals. Alabama turned the ball over three times. Tennessee was flagged for a blindside block that wiped out a long Bishop run, but it never mattered.

Neyland is supposed to be the place where ranked teams come to get tested. Saturday it was the place where the Vols ran the ball, kicked the ball, and finally closed the door on Alabama for the first time since 2024.

Player of the Game: DeSean Bishop. Thirty carries, 147 yards, touchdowns of five and five, and the back who turned a two-point halftime deficit into a comfortable finish.