Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers are chasing their first road win over Alabama since a thrilling 51–43 four-overtime battle in Tuscaloosa back in 2003.
The Crimson Tide have found their rhythm since a Week 1 loss to Florida State, stringing together five straight victories — thanks largely to the stellar play of quarterback Ty Simpson. The junior signal-caller has racked up 1,678 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and just one interception, leading one of the SEC’s most efficient aerial attacks.
For Tennessee to pull off the upset, disrupting Simpson will be key. Speaking on The Mike Keith Show Thursday, Heupel emphasized that the Vols’ defensive front must set the tone.
“You’ve got to do a great job up front,” Heupel said. “You’ve got to apply pressure, get hands in his face, and make those throwing windows tight. On the perimeter, it’s about discipline — winning your matchups in man coverage, reading route patterns in zone, and staying locked in on your assignments.”
Heupel knows that slowing Alabama’s passing game starts with execution at every level of the defense — from the trenches to the secondary.
One strength of Tennessee’s defense this season has been its ability to generate pressure. The Volunteers rank second in the nation with 26 sacks — trailing only Western Michigan — a testament to their relentless defensive front. That pressure up front has allowed Tennessee’s secondary to drop an extra defender into coverage, tightening things up against opposing passing attacks.
So far, the Vols have faced just one ranked opponent — a 44–41 overtime loss to Georgia earlier in the year. A victory over Alabama would be a major statement win, keeping Tennessee firmly in the SEC title hunt and in the mix for a return to the College Football Playoff.
Kickoff from Tuscaloosa is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
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