Alabama vs. Tennessee score, takeaways: No. 4 Tide start slow but blow out Vols

A week after thrashing Mississippi State on the road by 40 points, No. 4 Alabama found itself in a fight at home Saturday night against Tennessee for three quarters. Ultimately, Crimson Tide pulled away late for a 52-24 victory. The game was tight into the fourth quarter until Jaylin Armour-Davis intercepted a pass from Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker with 11:02 remaining and ran it back 47 yards to set up an Alabama touchdown.

Armour-Davis’ interception, which made the score 45-24, constituted Alabama’s biggest defensive highlight, and QB Bryce Young provided plenty of offensive highlights for the Tide. The redshirt freshman completed 31 of 43 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Young also ran for two scores as the Tide excelled on third downs by converting 14 of 19 to extend drives and slowly break the will of a Tennessee defense that eventually ceded 574 total yards. Running back Brian Robinson added 107 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. 

The victory keeps Alabama firmly in the driver’s seat for the SEC West title and in the College Football Playoff conversation as it gears up for the stretch run of the schedule. After getting a bye next week, the Tide have home games against LSU, New Mexico State and Arkansas before closing with a road game at Auburn.

This story will be updated with takeaways from the Alabama-Tennessee game.