Tennessee upsets Alabama in SEC thriller; The Crimson Tide's second loss of the season jeopardizes their playoff hopes

The Southeastern Conference showdown between seventh-seeded Alabama and 11th-seeded Tennessee was one of the most anticipated games of week eight of college football.

The matchup lived up to the hype and went all the way to the finish.

The Crimson Tide lost 24-17 and fell to 5-2 on the year, dealing a blow to their College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Tennessee signalman Nico Iamaleava got off to a slow start. The volunteer fans and presumably the coaching staff held their breath as Iamaleava went down after a hard tackle. But the redshirt freshman returned to action after being examined in the fieldside medical tent.

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Nico Iamaleava (8) of the Tennessee Volunteers throws the ball as he is hit by Que Robinson (34) of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 19, 2024 in Knoxville. (Butch Dill/Getty Images)

While the quarterback's return seemed to give the Volunteers an immediate boost, he quickly threw his only interception of the day.

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Chris Brazzell II made a 16-yard touchdown catch from Iamaleava midway through the fourth quarter. Volunteer running back Dylan Sampson rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer during a game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. (Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Alabama has a lot of work to do the rest of the season. Milroe finished the game with 239 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Alabama ran for just 89 yards, while Tennessee ran for 214.

Trailing 21:17, Alabama took possession of the ball on its own with 2:25 minutes left in regulation time. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against wide receiver Kendrick Law stopped the Crimson Tide's drive and allowed Tennessee to extend its lead to seven with a field goal on the next possession.

Tennessee overcame three turnovers in the first half and trailed 7-0 at halftime.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel calls out his team after an interception during a game against Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

The Volunteers took a 14-10 lead with a minute left in the third quarter, their first lead in the game. Sampson rushed in from three yards out after Iamaleava connected with Dont'e Thornton for 55 yards to the Alabama 3.

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Early in the fourth quarter, Alabama answered the Vols' score with a 7-yard touchdown run by Justice Haynes to take the lead to 17-14. Germie Bernard got things started with a 28-yard reception from Milroe.

The Crimson Tide will look to bounce back next week when they host Missouri. Tennessee has a bye week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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