Was Tennessee the breaking point for fans? After the embarrassing 26-10 loss in Knoxville, frustration is boiling over. 🎙️ @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 discuss what went wrong and where @AlabamaFTBL goes from here on The Tide Machine. Full recap on YouTube.

As a high-school football legend coming out of Yulee, Fla,, Derrick Henry had the size, the speed and the physicality to make an impact as a running back, but opposing recruiters tried to convince the phenom that he would never get the chance to play his preferred position at Alabama. Henry never wavered in his commitment to @AlabamaFTBL and the Crimson Tide never wavered in its commitment to let him carry the ball, as fans were treated to a preview of things to come 13 years ago today when the freshman exploded for an 80-yard touchdown run against Arkansas on Oct. 19, 2013. With the Crimson Tide already holding an insurmountable 45-0 lead, Henry got the ball with less than 2 minutes remaining and displayed all his physical talents as he cut around left end for his long touchdown gallop. The dynamic run left the television announcers stunned as Brad Nessler said on air, “I didn’t know that cat could move that fast…That is a big dude moving at a high rate of speed.”

After the offense sputtered and misfired in Knoxville yesterday, today's flashback from Oct. 18, 2014, comes with a cruel reminder: There was a time when the Crimson Tide offense purred like a Cadillac instead of a lawn mower with bad gas. Just 12 years ago, No. 7-ranked @AlabamaFTBL delivered one of the most dominant performances of the Nick Saban era, dismantling No. 21 Texas A&M, 59-0, before 101,821 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The 59-point victory marked Alabama’s largest margin of victory ever against a ranked opponent, surpassing its 61-6 win over No. 14 Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl. It was also the Tide’s largest shutout victory since 1991. Alabama’s offense exploded for 602 total yards, including a school-record 35 points in the second quarter. Blake Sims threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, while Amari Cooper hauled in eight receptions for 140 yards and two scores. T.J. Yeldon added 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Crimson Tide scored on every possession in the first half as it piled up a 45-0 halftime advantage that left even the partisan crowd in somewhat disbelief. Defensively, Alabama suffocated the Aggies, limiting them to just 172 total yards, 31 rushing yards and eight first downs. The Tide recorded six sacks, forced seven three-and-outs and handed Texas A&M its first shutout loss since 2003.

INSTANT REACTION: @Vol_Football 26, @AlabamaFTBL 10 The Volunteers used a stalwart defense and power running game, something familiar to old-school Alabama fans, for a convincing victory.

Perhaps no Third Saturday in October has carried more significance for @AlabamaFTBL in the last 20 years than today’s game in Knoxville. Following a painful 20-17 loss to Georgia, No. 6 Alabama (5-1) heads to Knoxville to face No. 14 Tennessee (5-1) in a game that could define the Crimson Tide’s season. Can Kalen DeBoer’s team handle the hostile environment and mentally grind out a victory? The Crimson Tide needs to display the toughness and discipline necessary to end a two-game losing streak in Neyland Stadium. Alabama will also be shorthanded with wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, center Racin Delgatty and defensive lineman Terrence Green all sidelined due to injuries. After averaging more than 49 points per game, the Crimson Tide mustered just 17 in the loss to Georgia. Can sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell find a way to reignite the potent Alabama offense? Despite losing last week, the Crimson Tide regained national respect for trading physical blows with Georgia, but moral victories mean little in the SEC. If Alabama wants to remain a legitimate championship contender, it must win in Knoxville. This Third Saturday in October could determine the direction of Alabama’s season.

TENNESSEE HATE WEEK — DAY 5 @AlabamaFTBL 37, @Vol_Football 20 October 18, 2025 (Tuscaloosa) One year ago this month, Alabama delivered one of the most electrifying moments in the history of its rivalry with Tennessee. With the Volunteers threatening to score just before halftime, Crimson Tide defensive back Zabien Brown intercepted a pass at his own 1-yard line and raced 99 yards for a touchdown as time expired. The stunning reversal helped propel No. 6 Alabama to a 37-20 victory over No. 11 Tennessee before 100,077 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide had opened the game impressively, marching 91 yards on its opening possession before quarterback Ty Simpson connected with Isaiah Horton for a 2-yard touchdown. Alabama continued its solid first half when pressure from Yhonzae Pierre forced Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone for a safety. A 1-yard touchdown run by Jam Miller subsequently extended Alabama’s advantage to 16-7. Late in the second quarter, the Volunteers drove deep into Alabama territory, threatening to cut into the lead before halftime. With eight seconds remaining and Tennessee at the Crimson Tide 1-yard line, Aguilar dropped back to pass. Brown anticipated the throw, stepped in front of the intended receiver and intercepted the football near the goal line. What happened next transformed an already intense rivalry game into an unforgettable Bryant-Denny Stadium memory. Brown raced down the sideline, covering 99 yards as the final seconds of the half disappeared. Instead of Tennessee narrowing Alabama’s advantage to 16-14, the Crimson Tide entered the locker room leading 23-7. Tennessee tried to rally in the second half, cutting Alabama’s lead to 23-13 on a 44-yard touchdown run by DeSean Bishop. But Simpson answered by directing a remarkable 99-yard scoring drive, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Rico Scott. After Tennessee narrowed the margin again to 30-20, Alabama responded with a methodical 75-yard drive that consumed more than five minutes. Daniel Hill’s 4-yard touchdown run sealed the 37-20 victory and another memorable Crimson Tide triumph over its longtime rival.

After losing to Georgia, Saturday’s showdown with @Vol_Football is a crucial swing game for @AlabamaFTBL. Is this the biggest Third Saturday in October for Alabama in 20 years? 🎙️ @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 discuss on The Tide Machine. 👇

TENNESSEE HATE WEEK — DAY 4 @AlabamaFTBL 12, @Vol_Football 9 October 24, 2009 (Tuscaloosa) Seventeen years ago this month, Alabama’s undefeated season and national championship aspirations came within one field goal of being shattered by Tennessee. Instead, a 350-pound defensive lineman named Terrence Cody delivered one of the most iconic plays in Crimson Tide football history, preserving a heart-stopping 12-10 victory over the Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama entered the Third Saturday in October unbeaten and with national championship dreams growing stronger each week. Under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, the Volunteers arrived determined to spoil those ambitions. The contest became an old-fashioned defensive struggle, with neither team finding much offensive rhythm. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin provided all 12 of the Crimson Tide’s points, connecting on field goals of 38, 50, 22, and 49 yards. Alabama appeared to have survived Tennessee’s challenge when Tiffin’s fourth field goal produced a 12-3 lead with 6:31 remaining. But a rare fumble by Mark Ingram gave the Volunteers new life. Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton connected with Gerald Jones for an 11-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 12-10 with 1:19 remaining. The drama escalated when Tennessee recovered the onside kick. A 23-yard completion to tight end Luke Stocker moved the Volunteers into field goal range and suddenly Alabama’s perfect season hung in the balance. With four seconds remaining, Tennessee lined up for a 44-yard attempt by Daniel Lincoln but Cody had other plans. The massive nose guard powered through and blocked Lincoln’s kick as time expired, his second blocked field goal of the fourth quarter. Alabama finished the season 14-0 after defeating Florida for the SEC championship and beat Texas for the BCS national championship in Pasadena.

TENNESSEE HATE WEEK — DAY 3 @AlabamaFTBL 34, @Vol_Football 14 October 26, 2002 (Knoxville) Twenty-four years ago this month, Alabama ended one of the most painful stretches in the history of its rivalry with Tennessee. After seven consecutive losses to the Volunteers dating back to 1995, the Crimson Tide traveled to Knoxville and delivered a resounding 34-14 victory before 107,722 spectators at Neyland Stadium. For Alabama fans who endured the seven years of disappointment against the orange-clad Volunteers, the result felt especially satisfying. Tennessee’s seven-game winning streak was the longest by the Volunteers in the series and the longest streak by any opponent against the Crimson Tide. Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer always found ways to frustrate Alabama, but Dennis Franchione’s 2002 Crimson Tide arrived in Knoxville determined to end his Big Orange reign of terror. On Tennessee’s opening possession, defensive back Gerald Dixon scooped up a lateral pass and raced 66 yards for a touchdown. Later in the first half, Charles Jones intercepted quarterback Casey Clausen in the end zone, ending a Tennessee drive. Alabama marched 80 yards in six plays, highlighted by Brodie Croyle’s 56-yard completion to Zach Fletcher, before Santonio Beard scored from 10 yards out. Tennessee briefly found life when Mark Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, cutting Alabama’s halftime lead to 14-7. The Volunteers later narrowed the margin to 24-14 in the third quarter, but the Crimson Tide refused to let another Tennessee comeback spoil the evening. Alabama responded with a punishing 15-play, 76-yard drive that consumed 8:15 and ended with a field goal, restoring control of the game. The Alabama defense forced six turnovers, including three interceptions and three fumble recoveries, while limiting the Volunteers to just 222 yards of total offense. Late in the fourth quarter, Charlie Peprah intercepted Clausen and returned the football 49 yards to the Tennessee 1-yard line. Beard added his second touchdown of the game and completing the 34-14 victory and ending seven years of Alabama frustration.