Ty Simpson leads the Crimson Tide with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns as Alabama earns its fourth straight victory over a ranked opponent, matching the nation’s longest home winning streak.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | The No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide continued its midseason surge Saturday night, overpowering No. 11 Tennessee 37-20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium to secure its fourth consecutive win over a ranked SEC opponent and extend its home dominance to 16 games — the longest active streak in Division I football.
Quarterback Ty Simpson delivered another poised performance under pressure, completing 19-of-29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, finding Isaiah Horton and Rico Scott in the end zone. Freshman sensation Ryan Williams led all receivers with 87 yards on five catches, while running backs Daniel Hill and Jam Miller each found paydirt on the ground.
However, it was Alabama’s defense — relentless, disciplined, and opportunistic — that turned the game into a statement victory. In one of the defining moments of the season, cornerback Zabien Brown picked off Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar at the one-yard line and raced 99 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Defensive end Yhonzae Pierre recorded three sacks — the first Alabama defender to do so since Christian Harris in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Crimson Tide defense also forced a safety, held Tennessee to just seven first-half points, and set the tone from the opening drive.
With the victory, head coach Kalen DeBoer improved to 19-3 (.863) all-time against Associated Press Top 25 opponents, including a 7-1 record since taking over the Alabama program. His 15-2 mark in ranked matchups at the Division I level is the best winning percentage among active FBS coaches with at least ten such games.
The win also marked a historic milestone for Alabama, as it became the first team in SEC history to defeat four straight ranked conference opponents without a bye week.
“This team is building something special,” DeBoer said postgame. “We’re learning how to dominate every phase — offense, defense, and special teams — week after week. That’s championship football.”