Alabama football routs Tennessee in EA Sports CFB25 sim

Alabama football fans hoping for a bounce back last week against South Carolina were left disappointed. If EA Sports CFB25 is correct, however, that bounce back is coming in Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

All will be forgiven for the loss to Vanderbilt two weeks ago if the Crimson Tide comes out and utterly dominates the Volunteers in Knoxville like our all-powerful AI machine thinks.

In this sim, Alabama started fast and quieted the crowd who probably wished they were at a garbage truck worker's convention instead of having to watch their bitter rival decimate the home team.

Alabama scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the game in the first quarter. Justice Haynes busted off a big 39-yard run on the opening possession that signaled to the virtual Tide fans watching that it was going to be a good day. He paid off the opening drive with an 11 yard touchdown run.

After a quick Tennessee three-and-out, the Crimson Tide marched back down the field and Jalen Milroe punched in a tush-push from a yard away to give Alabama the14-0 advantage.

Tennessee's defense stiffend up in the second quarter, but Nico Iamaleava and the offense couldn't get much going. Tennessee added a field goal, but Alabama's Graham Nicholson added two of his own, connecting from 20 yards away and then from 51 right as the half expired to give Alabama a comfortable 20-3 halftime lead.

After forcing a punt to open the third quarter, Alabama's offense was backed up at its own 15 and could feel the crowd getting back into the game. One play later, the 4+2=6 connection struck and Milroe hit Ryan Williams for an 85-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put Alabama ahead 27-3 and send a stunned crowd looking for the exits early in the third quarter.

Tennessee threatened later in the quarter, but Iamaleava was intercepted in the redzone by Tide LB Deontae Lawson to end the first touchdown threat of the day.

Jam Miller put an exclamation point on the victory with a 2 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and both kickers traded a pair of field goals to get us to the final result of a 44-6 Alabama victory.

Alabama sacked Iamaleava three times and held him under 100 yards passing. LT Overton, Lawson, and Que Robinson all had a sack apiece.

Milroe was excellent through the air, throwing for 274 yards on 15-of-19 passing and the long touchdown to Williams. Williams was the Tide's leading receiver once again with four catches for 123 yards and the touchdown. Germie Bernard added 58 yards on three receptions, and CJ Dippre continued his involvement in the offensive gameplan with 51 yards on four catches.

Perhaps most encouraging was Alabama's ability to run the football against a stout Tennessee defense. The Vols felt the absence of starting LB Keenan Pili as the Tide ran the ball for 130 yards and averaged over four yards per carry. Haynes led the way with 63 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns, with Miller adding a touchdown and 52 yards on 14 carries.

The unmistakable cloud of virtual cigar smoke was seen emanating from the Alabama locker room as the Crimson Tide defeated Tennessee for the 17th time in 18 tries.