The college football world shifts its attention to Bryantt-Denny Stadium next Saturday for Alabama’s matchup against Louisiana State University, but people are still talking about the Tennessee game.
Alabama earned a 34-20 victory at home over the Volunteers to improve to 7-1. The Crimson Tide blanked Tennessee in the second half after allowing 20 points in the first half. Alabama’s defense turned up its intensity, forcing three turnovers on downs, a fumble, four quarterback hurries, three sacks, and eight tackles for loss. Chris Braswell, an outside linebacker, made the most significant play of the game. The former five-star sacked Vols’ quarterback Joe Milton and knocked the ball out of his hands.
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Jihaad Campbell, a sophomore linebacker, picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Fans erupted at BDS as cigar smoke went through the building. Alabama controls its destiny for a Southeastern Conference Championship, but a media pundit feels Tennessee is ‘even’ with Alabama. Clay Travis, a native of Nashville, Tenn., is a sports journalist, radio show host, television analyst, writer, and lawyer. He works for OutKick, which is through FOX Sports.
Travis was on The Next Round show via WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham, Ala.
He told the group he believes Tennessee is even with Alabama and Crimson Tide fans are ‘rattled.’
“Tennessee is now even with Alabama and I think that’s got Alabama fans all rattled.” – @ClayTravis #RollTide #GBO pic.twitter.com/CFh6YcAH5M
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) October 24, 2023
“I did not cry after this year’s game,” Travis said after the Volunteers’ loss to the Tide. “You guys correct me if I am wrong, but how many teams have come in and done to Alabama what Tennesssee did in the first half in the Nick Saban era?”
The Next Round cast brought up Ole Miss’ first-half excellence against Alabama, but Clay said it was nowhere close to what Tennessee did at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“The Ole Miss game was like 7-6 at halftime,” Travis said.
The Volunteers lost by 14 to the Crimson Tide, but Clay feels he’s not taking Tennessee’s performance as a ‘moral victory.’
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“I think Alabama fans are rattled,” he said. “I think they are really rattled. They know that Tennessee is now even with Alabama. If you look at total yardage in the past two years, Tennessee is up 50 yards. It’s functionally even. This was a different game. You don’t have Hendon Hooker, who is a good quarterback. You don’t have Bryce Young, who is a good quarterback. You had two guys that I think everyone would acknowledge are nowhere near as good. You don’t have as many good wide receivers, you don’t have as many good playmakers, and defenses are probably better … I think Tennessee will beat Alabama next year in Neyland.”
Tennessee led 20-7 at halftime, but Alabama adjusted in the second half. The Tide shut out an SEC offense in the second half for the first time this season. Travis believes Alabama fans are truly rattled, but the Tide nation still has a national championship opportunity. The attention is on hosting the LSU Tigers and fully securing the SEC West for a title shot in Atlanta, Ga.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
