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Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) throws to a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Halloween came early to Neyland Stadium Saturday afternoon. A horde of sloppy, undisciplined football players spent the first half of Saturday’s Alabama-Tennessee game dressed up as the former No. 1 and No. 4 teams in the country. The real deals showed up for the second half, though, and the result was a 24-17 win by the No. 11 Volunteers.
There are no points for style, though, and Tennessee has cleared another hurdle in its pursuit of a playoff berth and a possible SEC championship berth. Two-loss Alabama, meanwhile, faces a much more uncertain path in a crowded playoff field.
No. 7 Alabama had a chance to take the lead with two minutes to go down 21-17, but receiver Kendrick Law got called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for shoving UT defensive back Arion Carter. Carter had gotten in Law’s face — and threw a punch that appeared to barely miss Law in retaliation — but Law was the only player flagged.
That forced Alabama into a fourth down with 22 yards to go. Coach Kalen DeBoer opted to go for it instead of punt it away with all three timeouts, and Jalen Milroe’s completion to Justice Haynes was well short of the first down.
The Crimson Tide prevented Tennessee from getting a first down and forced the Vols to kick a field goal and extend the lead to seven. Alabama had one more shot to get a touchdown, and that chance lasted all of one play as Milroe threw an interception to safety Will Brooks on Alabama’s first play.
Tennessee took the lead for good with 5:52 to go when Nico Iamaleava found Chris Brazzell Jr. for a fantastic 16-yard TD.
Two weeks ago, this game was looking like it would be…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-11-tennessee-puts-no-7-alabamas-playoff-hopes-in-serious-jeopardy-with-24-17-win-234210324.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-19 23:42:10
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