2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 8: Tennessee

It will be hard to forget what happened at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. last October.

Simply put — it was the game of the year in college football in 2022-23. For the first time since 2006, Tennessee overcame Alabama in a 52-49 win. After that — chaos ensued. The field goal posts ended up in the water on a night that is surely to never be forgotten by Volunteer fans.

The future is bright for Tennessee after an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. The Volunteers won double-digit games last season for the first time in 15 years. Can the Volunteers keep the momentum going in 2023-24?

Offense

Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt were everything for Tennessee last year. That was obvious against the Crimson Tide — Hooker threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns while Hyatt racked up 207 yards and all five of those scores.

Both of those guys are off to the NFL now.

The Volunteers aren't going to blink an eye, though. Josh Heupel has a great offensive system and Tennessee has plenty of returning talent — including at the quarterback position. QB Joe Milton III started just two games last year but is already considered one of if not the best returning quarterback in the SEC in 2023-24. He excels at throwing the ball down the field — something the Volunteers thrive on. After patiently sitting behind Hooker the last two years, the former Michigan transfer is ready for his opportunity.

Tennessee will have to replace both Hyatt and Cedric Tillman at the wide receiver position. Bru McCoy (52 REC, 667 YDS, 4 TDs) and Squirrel White (30 REC, 481 YDS, 2 TDs) both have experience and will look to fill in as the new top receivers in Knoxville.

The Volunteers, like Alabama, have a strong stable of running backs, led by Jabari Small (157 ATT, 734 YDS, 13 TDs) and Jaylen Wright (146 ATT, 875 YDS, 10 TDs).

The loss of OT Darnell Wright could be huge for Tennessee. The Volunteers also lost Jerome Carvin — but added John Campbell Jr. from Miami and Andrej Karic from Texas.

Defense

Tennessee ranked No. 1 in total offense in 2022-23. The defense was certainly the weak spot for the Volunteers — including a horrid pass defense that finished 127th in the country. A banged-up Bryce Young threw for nearly 500 yards on the Tennessee secondary in the last-second loss.

The Volunteers return seven starters from their defense a year ago including LB Aaron Beasley, CB Doneiko Slaughter and DB Tamarion McDonald. Tennessee also went into the portal and grabbed two defensive players from BYU, including LB Keenan Pili.

Crimson Tide fans will remember NT Omari Thomas, who controversially got away with what appeared to be a targeting penalty on Bryce Young.

Schedule

There's a chance the Volunteers will come to Tuscaloosa undefeated — like they were for last year's matchup. Tennessee will have to visit Florida in Gainesville — a place it hasn't won since 2003. The Volunteers also have home games against Texas A&M and South Carolina — the team that ruined Tennessee's CFP hopes last year.

Alabama will host the Volunteers for the "Third Saturday in October" a week after welcoming Arkansas for Homecoming. After the showdown with Tennessee, the Crimson Tide will have its bye week.

Outlook

Let's face it — the Volunteers are going to be a successful group this year. However, if Joe Milton III can't live up to expectations, I don't see how they take the SEC East from Georgia. If Milton can sling it around the field and the defense can improve, Tennessee could find itself in Atlanta for the SEC championship — getting a crack at the back-to-back national champions in Knoxville this time around.

Prediction

Alabama 35, Tennessee 28

Alabama vs. Tennessee

Everything you need to know about the Crimson Tide's 2023 matchup against the Volunteers.

The Game

Date: Oct. 21

Time: TBD

TV: TBD

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Series: 58-39-7

Last meeting: After Will Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds remaining, Hendon Hooker drove Tennessee 45 yards in 13 seconds to set up a 40-yard field goal by Chase McGrath as time expired to give the sixth-ranked Volunteers a 52-49 victory over the third-ranked Crimson Tide. 

After snapping a 15-game losing streak in the series, Tennessee fans stormed the field and tore down the goalposts in celebration. Although Bryce Young had been a game-time decision due to a sprained right shoulder, the quarterback started and completed 35 of 52 passes for 455 yards and two touchdowns.

The Team

The Coach: Josh Heupel (Two years at TENN: 18-8 | 5-year career: 46-16)

Offensive Coordinator: Joey Halzle

Defensive Coordinator: Tim Banks

2022 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)

2022 Rankings: Total Offense: No. 1 | Total Defense: No. 91

Returning Starters: 12 (5 Offense | 7 Defense)

Players to Watch: WR Bru McCoy, QB Joe Milton, RB Jaylen Wright, C Cooper Mays, DT Omari Thomas, MLB Aaron Beasley, S Jaylen McCollough, PR Dee Williams

Top Newcomer: OL John Campbell transferred in from Miami for the start of the spring semester and is expected to start at left tackle, with Texas transfer Andrej Karic at left guard. Campbell is listed as 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds. He spent five years with the Hurricanes and played in 33 games, — making 17 starts. How well they gel could be the key to Tennessee's season as the starters on the right side of the line and at center return.

Biggest Question: Normally you'd say it's the quarterback, but Joe Milton has a cannon arm and led the Volunteers to an Orange Bowl win over Clemson. So we'll go with the defense that needs to step up and could with seven returning starters. If so, Tennessee will be Georgia's biggest challenger again in the SEC East — and this time, the Volunteers will host the two-time reigning national champions.

The School

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Founded: 1794

Enrollment: Approximately 34,000

Nickname: Volunteers

Colors: Orange and White

Mascot: Smokey

The Program

Coaching Changes During Saban Era: Five

Last Time Beat Alabama: 2022 | 52-49 at Neyland Stadium

Last Time Won Division: 2007

Last Time Won SEC Championship: 1998

National Championships (6): 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998

Playoff Appearances: None

SEC Championships (13): 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1967, 1969, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998

Bowl Appearances: 30-25

Last Time Didn’t Play in a Bowl: 2020

Heisman Trophies: None

Consensus All-Americans During Saban Era (5): DB Eric Berry (2008), KR/AP Evan Berry (2015), DE Derek Barnett (2016), WR Jalin Hyatt (2022)

First-Round NFL Picks During Saban Era (8): The most recent was OT Darnell Wright — the 10th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Draft: Five total selections led by Wright — the other four all went in the third round including WR Jalin Hyatt.

Last Four Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 10 in 2023, No. 18 in 2022, No. 22 in 2021, No. 11 in 2020

The Schedule

• Sept. 2: vs. Virginia (Nashville)
• Sept. 9: vs. Austin Peay
• Sept. 16: at Florida 
• Sept. 23: vs. UTSA
• Sept. 30: vs. South Carolina
• Oct. 14: vs. Texas A&M
• Oct. 21: at Alabama
• Oct. 28: at Kentucky
• Nov. 4: vs. UConn
• Nov. 11: at Missouri
• Nov. 18: vs. Georgia
• Nov. 25: vs. Vanderbilt

Did You Know?

Coupled with a favorable schedule, Tennessee could be looking at another season with double-digit wins — the Volunteers haven't done that since 2003-04. Tennessee also hasn't reached the SEC Championship Game since 2007 — Nick Saban's first year at Alabama.

This is the eighth story in a series previewing Alabama's 2023 opponents:

Middle Tennessee

Texas

South Florida

Ole Miss

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Arkansas