The Opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide
When: Saturday, October 17th, 3:30 EST or later.
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
It’s the Third Saturday in October. If you’re a fan of either the Vols or the Tide, what more needs to be said? After years of dominance in this series, Bama heads to Rocky Top as a dangerous but vulnerable visitor that has lost the last two times it came to Knoxville. The Tide has alternated playoff appearances the last four seasons, missing out each time it lost on Rocky Top, proof that even the Tide eventually has to deal with the consequences of losing one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Coach Background
Head coach Kalen DeBoer is in his third season at Alabama with a solid but not Saban-worthy record so far. He previously turned around Washington with his up-tempo, spread-influenced system that creates plenty of headaches for traditional Southeastern Conference defenses.
DeBoer is a culture-first coach who builds programs around strong relationships and accountability, then unleashes a versatile, motion-heavy, up-tempo offense designed to attack defenses from every angle.
Staff Facts
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is in his second season with the Tide. He worked with DeBoer in his final two years at Washington, then spent a season in the NFL as offensive coordinator for the Seahawks before following DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.
Grubb is a sharp play-caller who builds explosive, quarterback-friendly offenses. He mixes shotgun and pistol formations, heavy pre-snap motion, H-backs, mesh concepts, and a variety of run schemes including outside zone, gap/power, and counters. He loves using jet motion, rub routes, screens, and play-action to create mismatches and stretch defenses both horizontally and vertically.
Grubb isn’t afraid to adapt, however, building the offense around his personnel rather than forcing a rigid system. At Washington he had a very pass-heavy attack but at Alabama thus far, he’s stressed the need for more physicality in the run game and offensive line play to succeed in the SEC.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, entering his third year at Alabama, brings an aggressive, multiple-front scheme that emphasizes versatility and creating negative plays.
“Swarm” is the main word when scouting a Wommack defensive scheme. He wants a violent, high-effort defense that flies to the football, creates negative plays, and forces turnovers. The base looks similar on the surface to what Alabama fans got used to under Saban, but it’s more aggressive underneath.
The defensive line strategy is more about shooting gaps and attacking instead of playing two-gap defense and controlling. The goal is to create havoc in the backfield with tackles for loss and sacks.
Wommack loves pre-snap disguise. He’ll show one look before the snap, then flip the picture right after, sometimes even changing again mid-play to keep quarterbacks uncomfortable and off balance.
Once the ball is snapped, Wommack’s defenders drop into defined levels in zone coverage, keep their eyes on the QB, and swarm to the ball. The scheme is designed to eliminate yards after catch, attack screens, and prevent explosive plays.
Quarterback Preview
This situation remains unsettled heading into fall practice, with a battle between senior Austin Mack (6-6, 232) and sophomore Keelon Russell (6-3, 201). Both have limited game experience. Mack, who was on DeBoer’s final team at Washington then transferred to Bama, served as the backup last season but only has roughly 70 career snaps and 25 pass attempts, while Russell has even fewer. Whoever wins the job will be one of the least experienced quarterbacks to start for Alabama in years.. Probably since Jalen Hurts got the call for Saban in 2016. Whoever wins the Bama QB derby will be tested heavily in the SEC gauntlet. Last summer, Grubb called Mack the best pure thrower on the team and that was when Ty Simpson was still on campus, so Mack may have the leg up in this battle.
Key Offensive Player
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (Jr., 6-0, 192). Remember in 2024 when this guy just had two names and, at 17 years old, was tearing up Georgia? All you heard was that he was the youngest receiver to do this, that, or the other. That October, he also became the youngest receiver to have a pass thrown his way intercepted in the south end zone of Neyland Stadium. Congratulations, Ryan!
Now he’s one of the top returning wideouts in the country. In 2025, Coleman-Williams hauled in 49 catches for 689 yards and four touchdowns but had one of the country’s highest drop rates. Maybe the extra letters on the jersey will help that. Dynamic after the catches he does make, with big-play ability, Coleman-Williams will be the go-to target for the young quarterback and a major deep threat in Grubb’s offense.
Coleman-Williams’ strengths include elite speed and athleticism, combined with versatility and the ability to gain yards after the catch. When focused he also runs routes smoothly and can create separation at all three levels.
In addition to his drops in 2025, his weaknesses are his size and an occasional lack of focus. Even with gaining some weight, Coleman-Williams still is on the smaller side and can get bullied by physical cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage or in contested catch situations. He’s admitted he needs to clean up route precision, hand usage through contact, and his overall consistency.
Key Defensive Player
Devan Thompkins, DL (5th Year, 6-5, 298). One of the biggest transfer additions for the Tide, Thompkins transferred in following four years from Southern Cal. In 2025, he recorded 31 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. He’s a disruptive force on the defensive line who can clog running lanes and pressure the quarterback, giving Wommack a veteran anchor up front.
Thompkins’ length and frame give him elite pass rushing ability. When he’s pushing hard, his power and strength make him able to bull rush flat-footed linemen on passing downs. The question is, can he defend the run at an elite level? If he doesn’t pick up that part of his game now that he’s in the SEC, Thompkins is going to be more of a bust than an impact player.
X-Factor
Alabama’s offensive line. The Tide lost a ton of production and experience from this unit in 2025 and now features multiple new starters, some transfers and some younger players. This group is still trying to develop chemistry and physicality.
This directly impacts two critical things: Protecting whichever inexperienced quarterback wins the job, specifically against Tennessee’s pass rush in one of the loudest environments in college football; and second, establishing the physical run game that DeBoer desperately wants and needs to have to succeed in the SEC.
If Bama gets dominated up front, the QB will be under constant duress, the running game will stall, and Tennessee can control field position. But if that line holds up and creates lanes, Alabama’s talented skill players (especially Coleman-Williams) can take over the game.
The Schedule
Alabama’s trip to Tennessee is sandwiched between home games against Georgia and Texas A&M. That’s a brutal back-to-back-to-back. The turnaround on the road in one of college football’s loudest stadiums could wear on the Tide, especially if the offense is still trying to find its rhythm midway through the season.
How the Tide Can Win
Alabama wins by leaning on its talented collection of NFL caliber skill players and seeing the defense stuff drives and create short fields. When it works, and with proper protection from the line, Grubb’s scheme can produce chunk plays. Wommack’s unit defense harass Tennessee’s offense into mistakes. The Tide win if the Vols forget that even an Alabama team in some state of rebuilding still possesses more NFL talent on the roster than most programs.
How the Tide Can Lose
Alabama loses if the quarterback battle isn’t truly settled by midseason or whomever wins the job gets rattled by Neyland’s atmosphere, leading to costly mistakes. Or if the offensive line struggles and the defense can’t generate enough pressure against Tennessee’s tempo attack. The Tide lose if they’re still figuring things out at this point, and lack the cohesion to close out a hostile road rivalry game.
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Alabama 27.
Home-field advantage, offensive continuity, and the new defensive scheme points to a close, entertaining battle that goes in the Vols’ favor. Expect Tennessee to edge it out and beat Bama for the third straight time in Knoxville. Alabama will flash elite talent and make it interesting, but the young quarterback and rabid crowd will prove too much to overcome for the Tide in a hostile environment.
Predicted Vols Record: 6-1 (3-1)