Alabama is heading into its showdown with Tennessee without one of its biggest offensive weapons.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday afternoon that Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams “isn’t expected to play against Tennessee.” Thamel added that Coleman-Williams is expected to be week-to-week after this weekend’s game and is dealing with both a head injury and a leg injury.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed the uncertainty around his star receiver on Monday.
“Ryan has got a couple things going on,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said on Monday. “Got to work through an injury with his knee that’s been kind of going on.
We’ll deal with that. Got the head issue, as well.
Gonna address that, even the lower extremity there, this week. Pretty good chance we wouldn’t have him here this weekend.
Probably be week-to-week after that.”
Coleman-Williams was already working through a lower body injury before taking a hard hit to the head in Alabama’s loss to Georgia in Tuscaloosa this past weekend.
Through six games this season, he has been Alabama’s most productive pass-catcher, piling up 415 yards and four touchdowns on 23 receptions. That production leads the Crimson Tide in all three categories, though his receptions total is tied with wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks.
Tennessee has seen plenty of Coleman-Williams before. In Alabama’s win over the Vols last season, he finished with five catches for 87 yards and added one rush for 16 yards. In a loss to Tennessee during his freshman season, he posted eight catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The recent series between the two programs has been tight. Tennessee and Alabama have split the last four meetings, with each team defending home turf twice. Alabama beat Joey Aguilar’s Tennessee team 37-20 in Tuscaloosa last season.
Both teams enter the game at 5-1. No.
14 Tennessee has beaten Furman, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Auburn, and Arkansas. No.
6 Alabama’s wins have come against East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide’s lone loss came last weekend against Georgia, a field-goal defeat in Tuscaloosa.
In the Josh Heupel era, Tennessee is 2-3 against Alabama. Heupel is 1-1 against Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide. The Vols won in 2022 and 2024, while Alabama took the 2021, 2023, and 2025 matchups.
No. 14 Tennessee will host No.
6 Alabama on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium in a Top 15 Third Saturday in October matchup.
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Josh Heupel did not use the postgame spotlight to lock in the quarterback situation beyond this week, which keeps one of Tennessees biggest questions alive as Alabama comes to Neyland Stadium next. The Vols have plenty to feel good about after responding on the road, but the margin for error tightens quickly now, and the quarterback decision is one more layer to sort out before a marquee SEC showdown. [Read more 🡒]
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Tennessee Heads Into Alabama Week With Something To Prove At Home
Tennessee is heading into one of the SECs biggest stage games with Alabama coming to Knoxville for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, and the matchup already has the feel of a measuring-stick afternoon. FanDuel lists the Crimson Tide as 6.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 54.5, which only adds to the sense that the Vols will need to make a statement at home if they want to change the conversation around the matchup.
Josh Heupel spent part of last week trying to keep his team grounded, denying Tennessee was peeking ahead to Alabama during the win over Arkansas. Now comes the part that matters most for Tennessees season, and for a fan base that knows how much this rivalry can swing on one game. The Vols will get their chance in front of their own crowd, with plenty still to prove when the Tide arrive. [Read more 🡒]