Overview
- With nine seconds left in the half and no timeouts from the 1-yard line, Joey Aguilar’s play-action throw was intercepted by Zabien Brown and returned 99 yards to give Alabama a 23-7 halftime lead.
- Earlier in the second quarter, Aguilar was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone under heavy pressure, resulting in a safety that put Alabama ahead.
- Josh Heupel explained the decision as a choice between two shots or one and said the read required accuracy or a throwaway, emphasizing that responsibility for the play was shared.
- Tennessee’s first half featured repeated self-inflicted issues, including penalties and protection breakdowns, with four of five drives hindered and two directly producing Crimson Tide points.
- Aguilar finished 28-of-44 for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, extending his 200-plus-yard passing streak to 31 starts, as Tennessee fell to 5-2 (2-2 SEC) and lost for the 17th time in 19 meetings with Alabama, including 11 straight in Tuscaloosa.