Kalen DeBoer isn’t interested in letting one loss linger. After Alabama’s 20-17 defeat to Georgia in Week 6, the Crimson Tide coach made the message simple as his team shifted into Tennessee prep: move on fast, or risk carrying that disappointment into another huge SEC test.
“I’ve told the team, you can’t let Georgia beat us twice,” said Kalen DeBoer during his session with reporters on Monday.
That reminder comes after a frustrating night in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama had a winnable game but piled up too many mistakes and managed just 3 points in the second half. The final sequence only sharpened the pain. When the Tide couldn’t get the ball back for one last shot at erasing the three-point deficit, largely because of a personal foul penalty on Dijon Lee Jr., the frustration on the sideline was obvious, and Alabama’s unbeaten start was gone.
Still, the season isn’t suddenly off the rails. Alabama sits at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, and the loss to Georgia didn’t drop the Crimson Tide in the new AP Poll, where they remain No. 6.
Now the attention turns to Week 7 and a trip to No. 14 Tennessee.
The Volunteers are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, and the Third Saturday in October matchup is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
For DeBoer, the next step is making sure Georgia stays in the rearview mirror and doesn’t turn into a second straight setback when Alabama walks into Knoxville.
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Tennessee Faces One Huge QB Decision Before Alabama Arrives
Josh Heupel still has not said who will get the first snap at quarterback when Tennessee meets Alabama, and that uncertainty hangs over everything the Vols are doing this week. George MacIntyre helped sharpen the conversation with a steady first career start against Arkansas, showing the kind of composure and willingness to attack downfield that can matter in a big-game setting.
MacIntyre finished 18 of 29 for 247 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, a line that reflected both the promise and the risk that come with leaning on a young passer. Faizon Brandon is still working back from injury and had been less effective in recent games, so Tennessee enters one of its biggest games without a clear answer at the sports most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Heupel Hinted At Two Big Tennessee Concerns Before Alabama
The build-up to Tennessees trip to Alabama has the feel of a measuring-stick game, and Josh Heupel knows it. With both teams sitting at 5-1 and the Volunteers headed in as the 14th-ranked team against No. 6 Alabama, the head coach spent his time with the media leaning into the standard issues that come with a rivalry of this size: preparation, execution and the need for individual players to be ready for every snap.
Heupel also touched on the matchup in a way that suggested Tennessee has already identified the places where this game could tilt, even before the teams take the field Saturday. For a Vols team trying to keep pace in the national picture, the stakes are obvious, but so is the challenge of handling an Alabama opponent that has not given many easy answers in this rivalry. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Be Missing The Weapon Tennessee Feared Most
Alabamas passing game may be heading into Saturdays matchup with Tennessee without its most productive target. Ryan Coleman-Williams is not expected to play because of head and leg injuries, and coach Kalen DeBoer said the receiver is also dealing with a knee issue as the Tide work through the week.
For a Tennessee defense already bracing for a major SEC test, the injury status matters because Coleman-Williams has been Alabamas leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season. DeBoer indicated the receiver is expected to be week-to-week after the Tennessee game, leaving the Vols to prepare for a version of Alabama that may look a little different than expected. [Read more 🡒]