Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols’ 48-17 loss to Alabama
These were the key moments in the Tennessee football Volunteers’ loss to the Crimson Tide.
Unlike last week’s 34-7 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee football probably had no real chance to be in this game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. You couldn’t just swing a couple of plays to give the Vols the lead.
However, in this 48-17 loss, there were some plays that shifted the momentum of the game and kept it from being closer than it could have. Again, like every game, this sport comes down to just a few plays, and you don’t know when they’ll happen.
What could have made this matchup closer? When did the key plays occur? Let’s break that down here. Here are the turning points for Tennessee football in the Vols’ 48-17 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Fumble by Najee Harris called off
After forcing a punt on the first drive, the Vols’ defense let Alabama go all the way down to the one on the next drive. However, Najee Harris appeared to fumble on the goal-line, and UT appeared to recover. A review was inconclusive, though, and that allowed the Tide to keep the ball. With that deflation, UT allowed Alabama to score on the next play to go up 7-0.
Najee Harris sheds multiple tackles on 3rd and 2
Alabama was driving again up 7-0. On 3rd and 2, Najee Harris seemed to be stopped in the backfield on a run the UT defense snuffed out. Darel Middleton missed the tackle, though, and multiple Tennessee football linebackers missed more tackles, allowing Harris to get a first down. Alabama then scored another touchdown to go up 14-0 when it could have only been 10-0.
Jeremy Pruitt settles for field goal on 4th and 2
Finally, the Vols began to move the ball. They drove deep into Alabama territory and brought up a 3rd and 3. On a draw, Eric Gray only gained a yard. However, down 14-0, Jeremy Pruitt inexplicably settled for a field goal, abandoning the aggression he showed through four weeks. Brent Cimaglia made it, but 14-3 killed the Vols’ momentum even further.
Mac Jones completes pass into double-coverage
A touchdown by Tennessee football made it 21-10. When Alabama got the ball back, Mac Jones threw a 45-yard bomb into double-coverage. Bryce Thompson was there for the interception, but he misjudged the ball, and John Metchie III caught it. Alabama scored two plays later. What could have been UT ball with a chance to make it a one-score game instead made it 28-10.
Eric Gray fumble returned for touchdown
Down 28-10, the Vols at least got the ball to start the second half. However, on 3rd and 5 on the opening drive, Alabama read a draw play call to Eric Gray. Malachi Moore forced a Gray fumble and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. That made it 35-10 and ended any chance Jeremy Pruitt’s team had at a comeback.
Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 48-17 loss to Alabama. dark
If you take away four of these plays, Tennessee football is definitely in the game late. We don’t know what would have happened on the field goal drive had Pruitt gone for it, but even in this blowout, the Vols were just a few plays away from making this interesting.