Alabama Rallies in Second Half to Beat Tennessee, Maintain Grip Atop SEC West

For a half, it looked dicey. But eventually, Alabama did what Alabama does: beat Tennessee in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The No. 11 Crimson Tide, who trailed the No. 17 Volunteers 20-7 heading into the locker room, controlled the final 30 minutes of the high-stakes SEC showdown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Saturday, outscoring Tennessee 27-0 in the second half to win 34-20.

"I enjoy coaching this team, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban told reporters after the game. "That's not to say they're not taking years off my life. But I'm OK with it. It's fun because they've got a good spirit about them."

It marks Alabama's 10th straight home win in the annual series, and avenges its heartbreaking 52-49 loss to the Volunteers in Neyland Stadium last October. Tennessee has not won in Bryant-Denny since 2003, with former head coach Phillip Fulmer at the helm and Casey Clausen at quarterback.

This time appeared to be different, at least early on. The Volunteers dominated the first two quarters, with signal caller Joe Milton III looking poised and comfortable en route to a 13-point halftime edge.

The early Tennessee surge was best summed up on the very first drive of the contest, an eight-play, 75-yard march punctuated by a perfect pitch and catch from Milton to wideout Squirrel White.

But things shifted completely once the third quarter began, with Alabama relying on a steady dose of running back Jase McClellan, timely completions from quarterback Jalen Milroe and superb play from its defense to get the win.

It started on the first drive of the half, as Alabama struck quickly. A 29-yard scamper from McClellan set up a 46-yard dime from Milroe to wideout Isaiah Bond, cutting the Volunteer lead to six.

The fifth-year senior tailback racked up 115 yards on 27 carries, his second-most yards in a single game in his college career.

Once Reichard added another field goal near the mid-way point of the fourth quarter, Alabama led 27-20. Tennessee, though, still had life despite its continual second-half struggles.

That life was short-lived, though, as a strip-sack of Milton by Crimson Tide linebacker Chris Braswell led to a scoop-and-score by linebacker Jiihad Campbell. Just like that, Alabama led by 14 with just over seven minutes left in the game.

The Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 in the SEC), have now won six straight since a Week 2 home loss to Texas. Alabama is on bye next week, before a home date with No. 19 LSU on Nov. 4.

Tennessee (5-2, 2-2), meanwhile, faces Kentucky on the road next Saturday.