No. 1 Alabama Trounces No. 9 Tennessee in 49-10 Runaway

After what Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin, and the Crimson Tide did to Butch Jones and the Volunteers on Saturday, it may be awhile before Tennessee is ranked in the top 10 again. What was important was that Alabama took a second consecutive road victory against a ranked Southeastern Conference opponent.

The win against rival Tennessee was the largest margin of victory in the rivalry since 1906, when Alabama won 51-0.

West Virginia was rightfully the overlooked Power Five unbeaten coming into the week.

The win is the third in a row for the Razorbacks (5-2, 1-2 SEC) over the Rebels, who have now lost three of their first six games a season after winning the Sugar Bowl. The Aggies had an open date this week. That’s including a 350-yard season from the Tide’s last dual-threat quarterback, Blake Sims, in 2014. As a result of this success, Alabama racked up a season-high 594 yards of total offense.

Austin Allen was 19-of-32 for 229 yards and three touchdowns for Arkansas, giving the junior an SEC-best 18 touchdown passes.

Both teams suffered an interception. UT did not fumble. Alabama racked up 438 yards rushing on its way to a 49-10 thrashing of the Volunteers.

Aggie HQ will be Chuy’s, 16 Summit Blvd.in Birmingham.

At that point, Hurts, a true freshman, had rushed for 132 yards on 12 carries – an 11-yard average – and completed 15 of 25 passes for 142 yards.

Running back Bo Scarbrough ran for 109 yards on ten carries and scored a touchdown for the Tide.

Conversely, Tennessee’s senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs passed for 92 yards and was minus-31 yards on the ground. On defense they held their own in the first half before completely unraveling in the second half.

PLAYER AWARDS: A pair of Alabama freshman earned SEC honors on Monday, as quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Freshman of the Week, while right tackle Jonah Williams took home Offensive Lineman of the Week. But there was also disappointment.

This game showcased the versatility of Alabama’s rushing attack as the Tide threatened to have three 100-yard rushers in one game.

Aside from Barnett’s two plays the next-best option may have come in fourth-quarter garbage time. The defense dominated this contest from the opening whistle, never allowing Tennessee to get in any sort of rhythm offensively.

Alabama had a nifty drive on its second possession. Two plays later, Alvin Kamara rushed seven yards up the middle on a read-option play to bring the score to 14-7. Hurts is an extremely skilled runner which puts even more pressure on defenses that already have to worry about Calvin Ridley, O.J. Howard, Stewart, and the running back committee. Tennessee only had 11 first downs. Harrison went the distance untouched.

NOTES: After being questionable all week, Alabama LB Reuben Foster (concussion) started on Saturday.

Tennessee had been prone to making late surges and fighting back into games in the second half.

It didn’t matter what defensive set the Vols called on Saturday night. Only Ole Miss played Alabama close in a 48-43 Rebels loss.

Georgia finally went ahead for the first time early in the third quarter on Jacob Eason’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Nauta. It was 28-7.

Hurts added another rushing touchdown to make it 35-10.

It didn’t stay that way for long.

Here are a few takeaways from Saturday’s matchup of two top-10 SEC teams. They were full of fast-moving Tennessee fans exiting the scene. “That’s our goal. We always want one more, one more”. It was a dramatic one.

Eddie Jackson returned a Tennessee punt 79 yards for a touchdown.