Bishop Runs for Two Touchdowns as Tennessee Beats Alabama 26-10

DeSean Bishop ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, Cooper Ranvier made all four of his field goal attempts, and Tennessee defeated Alabama 26-10 Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee built its early lead with its kicker. The Volunteers opened the game with a 12-play, 63-yard drive that stalled at the Alabama 12, and Ranvier hit a 29-yard field goal. On Alabama’s first possession, Jeremiah Telander sacked Keelon Russell and forced a fumble that Xavier Gilliam recovered at the Alabama 19. Tennessee could not reach the end zone, and Ranvier converted from 33 yards. After an Alabama punt, George MacIntyre found DaSaahn Brame for 26 yards to set up a 41-yard Ranvier field goal, and Tennessee led 9-0 with 4:32 left in the first quarter. Dejuan Lane intercepted Russell on the next Alabama drive, but the Volunteers lost yardage and punted.

Alabama got its offense going off a turnover in the second quarter. Ivan Taylor intercepted MacIntyre at the Tennessee 28 and returned it to the 14, and on the next snap after a false start penalty, Russell ran 19 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 9-7. Tennessee answered with a 12-play, 60-yard drive that included a 20-yard Bishop run, and Ranvier made it 12-7 with a 34-yard field goal.

The turnovers continued. Luke Metz recovered a Tennessee fumble on a punt at the Volunteers’ 23, and Alabama moved to the Tennessee 14 before Daniel Hill fumbled on a 4th-and-1 run. Lane recovered at the Tennessee 11. Alabama got one more chance before halftime, and Russell converted a 2nd-and-20 with a 20-yard completion to Rico Scott. A Tennessee holding penalty moved the ball to the 24, and Conor Talty kicked a 42-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to make it 12-10 at the break.

Alabama opened the second half with a 10-play drive that consumed 5:14, but Telander and Nathan Robinson stopped Hill for no gain on 4th-and-1 at the Tennessee 40. The Volunteers took over and went 60 yards in nine plays. Bishop broke a 20-yard run to the Alabama 5 and scored on the next play to put Tennessee ahead 19-10 with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

Tennessee put the game away with a 15-play, 72-yard drive that took 9:32 off the clock in the fourth quarter. MacIntyre connected with Mike Matthews for 19 yards on 2nd-and-10, and Bishop converted a 4th-and-1 at the Alabama 19 with a 5-yard run. Bishop finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:17 remaining, making it 26-10. Alabama drove to the Tennessee 26 on its final possession, but Kayin Lee intercepted Russell in the end zone with 48 seconds left.

MacIntyre completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards with an interception for Tennessee. Matthews caught seven passes for 85 yards, and Brame added three catches for 39 yards. The Volunteers finished with 347 total yards to Alabama’s 201, held the ball for 35:44 and scored on all five of their red zone trips.

Tennessee’s defense recorded five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Telander and Tyree Weathersby each had two sacks, Amare Campbell led the team with eight tackles, and Lane added five tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Russell completed 19 of 29 passes for 147 yards with two interceptions and was sacked five times. Marshall Pritchett led Alabama with six catches for 39 yards, and Scott had four receptions for 54 yards. The Crimson Tide ran for 54 yards on 26 carries, converted 2 of 13 third downs and committed four turnovers.

Caleb Woodson led Alabama with 11 tackles, and Bray Hubbard added 10. Metz had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, and Yhonzae Pierre recorded Alabama’s only sack.