Nick Saban didn’t need much time to identify why Alabama got pushed around by Tennessee on Saturday. The retired coach, speaking Monday at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham, pointed first to the players the Crimson Tide didn’t have and then to the way the Vols controlled the game on both sides of the ball.
“I know sometimes you get some key players that aren’t out there that can make plays that have an impact on them,” Saban began, referencing the impactful and growing list of injured players.
Alabama’s missing pieces showed up fast. Starting center Racin Delgatty’s absence hurt both pass protection and the inside run game, while Ryan Coleman-Williams’ explosive speed was absent in passing situations. That combination played straight into Tennessee’s strengths in a 26-10 beatdown that left Alabama with another rough trip to Knoxville.
Quarterback Keelon Russell was sacked five times, and Alabama never hit an explosive pass longer than 20 yards. The Tide’s running game never got moving, either. Once the 35 sack yards were removed, Alabama managed 90 rushing yards, with Daniel Hill leading the way on seven carries for 34 yards.
Saban gave Tennessee plenty of credit, especially for what it did defensively.
“I think Tennessee is a good team, especially on defense,” Saban continued. “I mean, they were physical.
We couldn’t run the ball. They played.
You know, Jim Knowles is a really good defensive coordinator. They had us covered most of the time and they ran the ball.”
That part mattered just as much. Tennessee’s offense didn’t need fireworks to win big.
The Vols leaned on DeSean Bishop, who carried 32 times for 159 yards and scored two touchdowns. Saban made it clear that stood out to him.
“The back is really good. Number 18 is a load,” Saban said, referencing Bishop.
“Tennessee’s winning a different way. Used to win wide open, explosive plays out of the spread.
Now it’s play good defense, run the ball, shrink the game, and look pretty damn good at it.”
The latest result continues a recent pattern in Knoxville. Saban lost there in his second-to-last season, a 52-49 shootout, when Tennessee’s offense looked very different under offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and quarterback Hendon Hooker.
The 2024 game ended 24-17. This one finished 26-10.
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