Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Volunteers

Injuries noted

Alabama Crimson Tide: Ryan Coleman-Williams (out) — WR #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Justin Hill (probable) — LB #8 listed Probable on the SEC Update 2 report; Desmond Umeozulu (out) — LB #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Cayden Jones (out) — LB #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Nick Sherman (out) — DB #29 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Josh Ford (questionable) — TE #40 listed Questionable on the SEC Update 2 report; Racin Delgatty (out) — OL #55 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jeremiah Beaman (out) — DL #92 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Terrance Green (out) — DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

Tennessee Volunteers: Ethan Davis (out) — TE #0 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Joakim Dodson (out) — WR #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jaedon Harmon (out) — LB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Edrees Farooq (out) — DB #15 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Dylan Lewis (out) — DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Wendell Moe Jr. (out) — OL #75 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• George MacIntyre is TENN's projected starter

  8.06 Y/A

  George MacIntyre is TENN's projected starting quarterback. The October 15 report attributes the planned start against Alabama to ESPN's Pete Thamel, citing sources. This establishes a reported plan, not an official game-day confirmation. 2026 line: 395 passing yards, 65.3% completions, 8.06 yards per attempt, 2-2 TD-INT over 4 games.

• Keelon Russell is ALA's confirmed starter

  9.89 Y/A

  Keelon Russell is ALA's confirmed starting quarterback. The October 13 Tennessee game-week report explicitly identifies Russell as Alabama's starting quarterback since week one. The October 16 matchup preview also identifies him as the starter; this is not inferred from passing totals. 2026 line: 1592 passing yards, 67.7% completions, 9.89 yards per attempt, 12-2 TD-INT over 6 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• ALA: 44.2 points per game to TENN's 34.7

  9.5 PPG

  Alabama is scoring far more than last season's 29.5, and Tennessee has slipped from 39.8 to 34.7. Six games is enough to take the Alabama jump seriously, but some of it may come from softer early opponents, so the number could come down in conference play. At Tennessee, both offenses can put up points, so think about how the total is priced before deciding which side has the edge.

TURNOVERS

• ALA: 2.33 takeaways per game to TENN's 1.33

  1 TO

  Alabama forces 2.33 turnovers a game and Tennessee forces 1.33, both over six games. Takeaway rates bounce around and usually move toward average, so some of that gap probably won't last. Alabama is still more likely to win the turnover battle, which can mean short fields and extra points. Use it as a small edge, and don't build a whole bet around it.

MISMATCH

• ALA: 269.2 pass yards a game to TENN's 186.5

  269.2 VS 186.5

  The widest gap between these two is pass yards a game: ALA threw for 269.2 passing yards a game over 6 games; TENN threw for 186.5 passing yards a game over 6 games this season. Last season ALA was at 263.5 over 15 games and TENN at 292.8 over 13 games.

COVERAGE

• TENN: 161.3 passing yards allowed per game to ALA's 236.5

  75.2 YPG

  Tennessee allows 161.3 passing yards a game and Alabama allows 236.5, both over six games. Six games is a solid start, but the sheet doesn't list opponents, so part of Tennessee's number could come from schedule. In this game, Alabama's passing offense meets the tougher secondary, while Tennessee gets to throw against the softer one. Lean toward Tennessee passing numbers over Alabama's.

REPLACEMENT

• Ryan Coleman-Williams (WR) is out for ALA

  OUT

  WR #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Desmond Umeozulu (LB) is out for ALA

  OUT

  LB #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Cayden Jones (LB) is out for ALA

  OUT

  LB #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Nick Sherman (DB) is out for ALA

  OUT

  DB #29 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Racin Delgatty (OL) is out for ALA

  OUT

  OL #55 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Jeremiah Beaman (DL) is out for ALA

  OUT

  DL #92 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Terrance Green (DL) is out for ALA

  OUT

  DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Ethan Davis (TE) is out for TENN

  OUT

  TE #0 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Joakim Dodson (WR) is out for TENN

  OUT

  WR #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Jaedon Harmon (LB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  LB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Edrees Farooq (DB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  DB #15 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Dylan Lewis (DB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

• Wendell Moe Jr. (OL) is out for TENN

  OUT

  OL #75 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-16)

SITUATIONAL

• ALA: 269.2 team passing yards per game to TENN's 186.5

  82.7 YPG

  Alabama is throwing for 269.2 yards a game over six games, almost the same as its 263.5 last season. Tennessee has dropped hard, from 292.8 to 186.5, so the gap is Tennessee's passing game falling off. Six games is a fair sample for a drop that big. At home, Tennessee needs its passing game back to keep up with a steady Alabama attack.

• No. 6 Alabama at No. 14 Tennessee

  #6 VS #14

  Alabama has almost double Tennessee's poll support, 1372 points to 706, even though both teams are 5-1. Alabama held at No. 6 and Tennessee moved up one spot to No. 14, so some of that gap comes from reputation more than record. Tennessee is at home with the same record, which makes the eight-spot ranking gap look bigger than the results so far justify.

TEAM RECORD

• SEC game: ALA 3-1, TENN 2-1 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the SEC. ALA is 3-1 against it, TENN is 2-1. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.