Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 52-49 win vs. Alabama

1. Mental toughness is through the roof for the Vols.

Keep in mind what Tennessee football did. As Nick Saban accurately pointed out at halftime, Alabama played as poorly as you could play in the first half, and they were still only down 28-20. The Vols were then stopped on a fourth down on their opening drive of the third quarter, and Alabama scored and hit a two-point conversion to tie it up.

By this point, everybody had to think Alabama had righted the ship and would steamroll the Vols. Well, Rocky Top responded with a touchdown drive on the next play. Now, that’s when Chase McGrath missed the extra point, Alabama scored again, and Hendon Hooker threw an interception.

How did the Vols respond? The defense got a key stop, and the offense marched down the field for another touchdown, converting a two-point conversion to go back up 42-35. Late in the game, Alabama seemed to clinch the win, though, as they tied it up, and then Hendon Hooker and Jabari Small fumbled an exchange that they ran back for a score.

Well, the Vols responded once again with a touchdown drive. Every time Alabama was poised to reassert itself, Tennessee football stepped up and made a play. That carried until the end, when the defense got a much-needed stop to force a long field goal that was missed, and the Vols set up a game-winning field goal.