Tyree Weathersby and Cooper Ranvier left the Alabama game with more than a win. Both Tennessee players picked up SEC weekly honors after the Volunteers’ 26-10 victory over the sixth-ranked Crimson Tide, with Weathersby named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week and Ranvier earning SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
Weathersby shared his award with Florida’s LJ McCray, while Ranvier split his with Auburn’s Alex McPherson.
Weathersby was all over the backfield in a game that swung on Tennessee’s ability to rattle Alabama early and often. He finished with two sacks and a fumble recovery, and that takeaway came after a Jeremiah Telander strip-sack in the first quarter.
The recovery set up a field goal that made it 6-0 Tennessee. He also helped anchor a front that produced five sacks in all.
That kind of pressure changed the feel of the matchup. Alabama managed only 201 total yards, including 54 on the ground, and went just 2-for-13 on third down.
Tennessee forced four turnovers and kept the Crimson Tide off the board after halftime. The 10 points were Alabama’s fewest against Tennessee since 2005.
Ranvier did his damage with the boot. He knocked through all four of his field goal attempts, hitting from 29, 33, 41 and 34 yards.
Every one came in the first half, and those kicks accounted for all of Tennessee’s scoring before the break as the Vols carried a 12-10 lead into halftime. He also added both extra points after halftime and finished with 14 points.
With the defense squeezing Alabama and the kicking game cashing in early chances, Tennessee was able to finish the job on the ground. The Vols scored touchdowns on two second-half drives, both on DeSean Bishop runs, while Alabama never answered.
The result pushed Tennessee to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, and it marked the Vols’ third straight home win over Alabama. Tennessee, ranked 11th in the country, now heads to South Carolina on Saturday.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Bigger Week 8 Conversation
A Tennessee team that has spent the fall trying to prove its place in the SEC spotlight has now been pulled into a broader Week 8 conversation, at least in the prediction game. Among a slate of upset calls circling college football, the Volunteers are the ones getting singled out for a potential edge over South Carolina, a matchup that would carry plenty of weight for a program still trying to stack consistency behind its stronger performances.
South Carolina has the kind of profile that can make these forecasts interesting, especially when recent results and individual play begin to tilt opinion one way or the other. For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: a road to momentum, a chance to firm up its standing, and another test of whether the Volunteers can turn promising stretches into something more durable when the conference schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Defensive Turnaround Is Suddenly Paying Off With Elite Recruits
Tennessees defensive resurgence has started to show up in ways that reach beyond the scoreboard. After holding Alabama to 10 points and forcing four turnovers in a recent game, the Volunteers gave 2028 four-star cornerback Tyler Boyd plenty to notice during his visit, and the performance lined up with the kind of progress the new defensive staff under Jim Knowles has been working to build.
Boyd came away talking about those improvements, and his interest in Tennessee appears to have grown after seeing the unit in person. The Vols are keeping the pressure on the recruiting trail, too, with Derek Jones and Josh Heupel staying in regular contact as they try to keep Boyds attention moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Passing Game Has A Real Opening If The Vols Hold Up Front
South Carolina has given up plenty through the air in SEC play, and that creates a clear opening for Tennessee as it looks to get its passing game moving in the right direction. For the Vols, this is less about chasing a big number and more about taking what the defense has already shown on film, especially if the matchup lets Tennessee stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs.
The key, as always, starts up front. If Tennessee can hold up in pass protection, George MacIntyres reads should come easier, and the rest of the offense will have a chance to do its part as receivers and backs work into the right spots. The opportunity is there, but it only matters if the Vols can keep the pocket clean long enough to make South Carolina pay for what it has been giving up. [Read more 🡒]