Volunteers stem Tide in last-second thriller
Tennessee hits 40-yard field goal as time expires to end its 15-game losing streak against Alabama.
NO. 6 TENNESSEE 52 NO. 3 ALABAMA 49
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After 15 years of being a rival to Alabama in name only, Tennessee ended a humbling losing streak, stamped itself a championship contender and celebrated in spectacular fashion.
Chase McGrath made a 40yard field goal as time expired to give No. 6 Tennessee a 52-49 victory over No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.
As soon as the kick knuckleballed through the uprights, some of the more than 100,000 fans stormed the field to join the party as the Volunteers ended a 15-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide.
Fireworks went off over Neyland Stadium and it glowed orange as the song “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama — a Crimson Tide favorite — blared over the stadium speakers.
And it didn’t take long for the goal posts to go down.
“This is college football at its absolute best,” Volunteers coach Josh Heupel said.
Hendon Hooker drove the Vols 45 yards in 18 seconds to set up the winner. Jalin Hyatt caught six passes for 207 yards and a Tennessee-record five touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, a game-time decision because of a sprained right shoulder two weeks ago, completed 35 passes for 455 yards and two touchdowns.
Hyatt’s fifth touchdown catch tied it at 49 with 3:26 left in the fourth.
Young drove the Tide into Tennessee territory in the final minute, but Alabama stalled at the 33 with three consecutive incomplete passes. Will Reichard’s 50-yard field-goal attempt for the lead was wide right.
With only 21 seconds left, overtime seemed likely, but Hooker wasn’t done and did the Heisman Trophy winner one better.
Hooker completed two passes for 45 yards, the second a 27-yard strike to Bru McCoy that gave Tennessee a chance for a makeable field goal — and McGrath converted to give the Volunteers its biggest win in years.
Tennessee had not beaten a top-10 team since 2006 against Georgia. That was also the last time the Vols beat Alabama.
Now, in his second season in Knoxville, Heupel has Tennessee looking like a legitimate national title contender behind a transfer quarterback from Virginia Tech.