Tennessee has battled against Alabama after a slow start. The defense has started playing a little better, and the offense has found the endzone, but the Vols have a long way to go before they can claim victory in Tuscaloosa.
The Vols' defense got a stop, allowing the Vols offense to go for the lead in the middle of the second quarter before a bogus offensive pass interference call forced the ball inside the 10-yard line.
The PI call was on a screen play behind the line of scrimmage, where the Vols receiver was called for PI for blocking on the screen.
Not only did the call push the Vols to their own goal line, but it also led to a safety one play later, gifting Alabama two free points. One Alabama drive later, and the Crimson Tide made the two free points a nine-point swing with a touchdown drive.
That's a momentum-changing call by the officials against Tennessee. That's nothing new for the Vols when they face Alabama, though.
Alabama routinely gets a favorable whistle in the Third Saturday of October. Alabama's offensive line gets the most freedom to commit penalties without punishment.
Alabama's offensive line routinely holds Tennessee's defensive line, and they make it pretty obvious. The officials look the other way, though, focusing their ticky-tack calls on Tennessee.
The Tuscaloosa chokehold is back pic.twitter.com/Gj9rpqDJL1
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) October 18, 2025
Tennessee has to get back in the game now while trailing Alabama by two scores almost immediately after the penalty.
Regardless of the officials' lean, the Vols have to persist and continue improving throughout the game if they want to beat Alabama.
The Vols' defense has to find a way to get off the field and slow down Alabama's offense while the Tennessee offense finds its rhythm after only one first-half touchdown so far.