The air in Tuscaloosa was thick with more than just humidity on October 18, 2025. It was that specific, heavy tension you only get when the Alabama Tennessee football game score hangs in the balance and the "Third Saturday in October" tradition is on the line. Most people expected a shootout, but what we got was a defensive masterclass and one of the most soul-crushing plays in the history of this rivalry.
Alabama won 37-20.
If you just look at the final number, it seems like a comfortable Tide victory. It wasn't. Not for a long time. The game was a jittery, nerve-wracking affair that swung on a single moment of madness right before halftime.
The 99-Yard Dagger No One Saw Coming
Honestly, the turning point happened when the stadium clock showed zero.
Tennessee was trailing 16-7 and had marched all the way to the Alabama 1-yard line. They had no timeouts left. With nine seconds on the clock, everyone in the stadium—and probably everyone watching on ABC—thought they'd run a quick play and, if it failed, kick the field goal. Instead, Joey Aguilar dropped back to pass.
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Sophomore corner Zabien Brown didn't blink.
He jumped the route, snatched the ball at the goal line, and just started running. 100,077 people went from dead silent to absolute bedlam as he sprinted 99 yards the other way. That 14-point swing made it 23-7 at the half. It wasn't just a touchdown; it was a psychological backbreaker that the Volunteers never truly recovered from.
Why Alabama Tennessee football game score stayed in Bama's favor
A lot of the post-game chatter focused on Ty Simpson, and for good reason. He was clinical. He finished 19-of-29 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. But it was his composure under pressure that really stood out.
Keys to the Crimson Tide Victory
- The 99-Yard Drive: In the third quarter, with Tennessee closing the gap to 23-13, Alabama found themselves pinned at their own 1-yard line. Simpson orchestrated a 9-play, 99-yard march that ended in an 11-yard strike to Rico Scott.
- Defensive Pressure: Yhonzae Pierre was a nightmare for the Vols, racking up three sacks. One of those pressures forced an intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety earlier in the game.
- Limiting the Big Play: Tennessee came into the game averaging over 500 yards of offense. Alabama held them to 410, and more importantly, kept them out of the end zone when it mattered most.
Tennessee didn't go down without a fight, though. DeSean Bishop was a bright spot for the Vols, rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yard burst that briefly made things interesting in the third quarter. But every time Tennessee threatened to make it a one-possession game, Alabama had an answer.
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Breaking Down the Scoring
It was a weird game. Safeties, massive pick-sixes, and long-sustained drives mixed together.
- First Quarter: Alabama strikes first with a 2-yard pass from Simpson to Isaiah Horton. (7-0, Bama)
- Second Quarter: Braylon Staley ties it up for the Vols. Then, the wheels sort of fall off for Tennessee. A safety followed by a Jam Miller touchdown run makes it 16-7. Then the Zabien Brown interception happened. (23-7, Bama)
- Third Quarter: Bishop rips off a 44-yard TD run. Alabama responds with that legendary 99-yard drive. (30-13, Bama)
- Fourth Quarter: Bishop scores again from short range, but Daniel Hill seals the deal with a 4-yard TD run with 5:49 left. (37-20, Bama)
The Cigar Smoke Tradition Returns
By the time the clock hit zero, the traditional cigar smoke was already drifting across Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It’s a sights-and-smells kind of rivalry. Seeing Ty Simpson light up on the field while the "Dixieland Delight" played was the definitive image of the night.
Alabama's win was historic for a reason most fans might have missed. They became the first team in SEC history to beat four straight ranked opponents without a single bye week in between. That’s a gauntlet. It showed a level of physical and mental toughness that many questioned earlier in the season.
For Tennessee, it was a bitter pill. They actually outgained Alabama in total yardage (410 to 373), but turnovers and that safety were the difference. Joey Aguilar's 28 completions were a season high, yet they just couldn't find the end zone when the field shrank.
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What’s Next for Both Teams?
If you're following the playoff race, this game was everything. Alabama solidified their spot as a top-five contender, moving to 6-1 (4-0 SEC). They’ve shown they can win ugly and they can win with explosiveness.
Tennessee drops to 5-2, but they aren't out of the hunt. They need to clean up the red zone mistakes—basically, stop throwing interceptions on the 1-yard line—if they want to make a run in December.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Tape: If you missed it, find the highlights of the Zabien Brown interception. It is a clinic on "reading the eyes" of a quarterback.
- Keep an Eye on the Rankings: This win likely propels Alabama into the top 4, while Tennessee will need to fight to stay in the top 15.
- Mark the Calendar: The next installment of this rivalry is set for October 17, 2026. If the 2025 game was any indication, the ticket prices are going to be astronomical.
The Alabama Tennessee football game score reflected a game of inches that turned into a game of miles thanks to a few catastrophic errors by the Vols and a cold-blooded performance by Ty Simpson.