When Saturday’s Showdown kicks off in Tuscaloosa, The Crimson Tide will be seeking revenge after last year’s loss in Knoxville. The loss marked Alabama Football’s first loss to the Volunteers since 2006’s matchup. This year’s game between the two rivals will look much different than last year’s 52-49 scoring extravaganza. For Alabama Football to come out on top this season there is three massive matchups Alabama must win in order to avenge their 2022 loss.
Jalen Milroe versus Joe Milton
Last season saw Bryce Young and Hendon Hooker combine for 840 yards passing and 7 touchdowns. This year’s matchup will be a battle of ball control as both offenses have new quarterbacks at the helm. Both Jalen Milroe and Joe Milton have shown they can complete the deep ball but have struggled in the intermediate passing game. Both team’s defense has become the strong suit as outside of the Florida Gators the Tennessee defense has held every team to 20 points or less. As both teams offensively become run-first teams, when it comes time to complete a big third down pass whichever team’s quarterback is able to complete the intermediate passes at a higher rate will certainly win this game.
On the season Jalen Milroe has shown growth limiting his turnovers to 2 over his last 4 games. Joe Milton is coming off his worst performance of the season throwing a touchdown and an interception while being held to 11-22 passing and only 100 yards passing. The Alabama Football defense and the Volunteers defense may be the toughest defenses both quarterbacks will face.
Kool-Aid Mckinstry and Terrion Arnold versus Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White
Last season the Alabama secondary was torched allowing Jalin Hyatt to rack up 207 yards and 5 touchdowns on 6 catches. This season’s Alabama secondary is much improved as Terrion Arnold has developed making one of the Nation’s best cornerback tandems alongside Kool-Aid Mckinstry. The Duo has only allowed one receiver to amass 100 yards receiving in Texas’ wide receiver Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Tennessee lost its lead receiver Bru Mccoy to injury in their week 5 game win over South Carolina. Since then, Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton have been the lead duo for Tennessee combining for 535 yards and 3 touchdowns through 6 games. The Duo has big shoes to fill in replacing the production Jalin Hyatt had versus this Alabama football team.
If White and Keyton are able to combine for 200+ yards versus this rebuilt Alabama secondary it will be very hard for Alabama to win this football game. On the other hand, if Kool-Aid Mckinstry and Terrion Arnold continue their run of success limiting White and Keyton then it will be a long day for Joe Milton and the Volunteer offense.
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel Versus Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele
Josh Heupel is perhaps the greatest offensive mind in College Football. His offenses since arriving at Tennesse have been prolific averaging 40+ points per game since he took over in 2021. This year’s Tennessee offense has struggled at times as it transitions from Hendon Hooker to Joe Milton still averaging 36 points per game while struggling versus Texas A&M and Florida.
Alabama Football had to replace both its coordinators as they departed for new gigs in the offseason. Kevin Steele was Nick Saban’s choice to lead the 2023 Alabama defense making it Steele’s third stint in Tuscaloosa. The best trait for Kevin Steele has been his second half adjustments allowing a combined 13 points in the second half versus USF, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Kevin Steele’s defense is allowing only 14.5 points per game a much-improved mark than the 2022 Alabama football team that allowed 18.2 points per game while shutting out Utah State and Austin Peay while holding Vanderbilt to 6 points.
The Play calling matchup between Steele and Heupel may be the most important matchup of the game. If Steele is able to continue his second-half magic this week Alabama will have an incredible chance to come out on top. However, if the Alabama defense plays how, it did in the second half, last week versus Arkansas allowing Arkansas to score 15 second-half points in a comeback effort that fell short the Crimson Tide may be in trouble.
Alabama Football comes out on top in low low-scoring affair.
Personally, I believe the Alabama secondary will provide too many problems for Joe Milton and Josh Heupel to overcome. The loss of Bru Mccoy to Tennessee deeply impacted their passing attack, as losing your premier playmaker would to most offenses. The Tennessee wide receiver core that decimated Alabama in 2022 is much different than this season’s Volunteer wide receiver core.
The Quarterback matchup will be the factor that decides this matchup as the pair of first-year starters have impressed at points in the season but lack consistency at times. Jalen Milroe had the game of his career this year versus Texas A&M while Joe Milton struggled against the same defense.
Overall, I think last season’s loss has played a massive part in Nick Saban’s narrative to the team this week. The only team to beat Nick Saban in back-to-back years was Ole Miss in 2014 and 2015.
Note: All stats via ESPN