Alabama Recap: Tide Slide — Vols win 2024 edition of the Third Saturday in October
Just four weeks removed from being on top of the college football world, a serious Tide slide is in full effect. The growing pains associated with new head coach Kalen DeBoer taking over for Nick Saban continued on Saturday as 7th ranked Alabama fell on the road to the 11th ranked Tennessee. It was the Vols’ second win in the last three years over the Crimson Tide. This loss stings as for the first time since 2007, Alabama will enter November with more than one loss. The loss at Neyland drops the Tide to 5-2, 2-2 in the SEC, and officially puts the Alabama’s playoff hopes on life support. Due to the defeat, Alabama dropped to #15 in the national polls, its lowest ranking since Saban’s first year at the helm of the Tide.
Alabama looks nothing like the squad that topped Georgia in an instant classic earlier this season. For the third straight game, Bama struggled to play winning football. The usually steady offense struggled all day, gaining only 314 total yards. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, once a Heisman Trophy favorite, played his poorest game to date, going 24-45 for 239 yards. He tossed a touchdown to Ryan Williams in the second quarter but threw two costly interceptions…one in the end zone, his second straight game doing so, and the second ended the contest as Alabama was attempting to drive for the game tying score. The Bama running game continued to struggle, with Miloe, Jam Miller, and Justice Haynes gaining a mere 75 yards on the ground. Teams are learning how to control Milroe on the ground, as the junior rushed for just 11 yards on 14 carries.
The Tide defense held Tennessee scoreless in the first half, yet that statistic is deceiving as Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava missed several deep balls to open receivers. Two first half interceptions by the Tide secondary were wasted as the Bama offense failed to take advantage of both opportunities. The defense did show signs of life, as the unit came up with two critical stops in the final four minutes of the game to give Bama hope at pulling off the win, however the Crimson Tide offense failed to take advantage of those opportunities as well. Most concerning for Tide Nation was yet another game plagued by penalties with several occurring at critical times. Alabama was flagged 15 times for a staggering 115 yards. As has been the pattern since last season, the Tide secondary was flagged for numerous holds and pass interference calls. Most disturbing was a call on receiver Kendrick Law, as he was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when he failed to keep his cool and retaliated against a Vol defender that was taunting him. The Vol should have been flagged as well, yet he wasn’t and it cost the Tide. The call occurred with 1:55 remaining in the game with Bama facing a crucial 4th and 7 at their own 33. Law’s inability to simply walk away turned the 4th and 7 into 4th and 22. The Tide went for it yet failed to gain the first down.
Overall, Iamaleava struggled in the first half but with the help of a solid running game, he was able to get into rhythm and finished the day 14-27 for 194 yards that included the winning touchdown with 5:52 left in the game. Tailback Dylan Sampson was kept in check by a valiant Tide effort in the first half, yet like his freshman quarterback, Sampson gained traction in the second half and finished the day with 139 yards on 26 carries. He scored two touchdowns in the second half as well. For Alabama, Ryan Williams was targeted 18 times and finished the day with 8 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. The win puts Tennessee in a good position to compete for a playoff spot, yet challenging games against Georgia and upstart Vanderbilt still remain. Meanwhile, the loss leaves the Tide reeling as they try to find a way to end the recent skid.
There is no question that DeBoer’s squad is giving their all, and post-game comments that struck a positive tone show that Bama is not throwing in the towel. The Tide have failed to put together a complete game in all three phases. During the last three games, where the Tide is 1-2, when the offense excels, the defense struggles and vice versa. The steadiest performer so far this season has been senior punter James Burnip, who is making a strong case for all-conference and all-American honors. Overall, this Alabama team has forgotten how to play winning football, and if they do not figure out how to do so quickly, the season has the chance of continuing the downward spiral of the last three weeks. The Tide have five games remaining, and if they somehow can find the magic of earlier this season and run the table, a 10-2 Alabama squad may have a shot at a playoff spot. With Missouri next week and LSU on the road, as well as the Iron Bowl against a capable Auburn team that could catch fire, running the table seems like a tall task. It’s going to be another long week in T-Town.
