Nick Saban didn’t know what to do, so he put the cigar in his mouth and threw his hands up.

Jalen Milroe couldn’t stop laughing, and, for Alabama fans anyway, now might have the most contagious laugh in the state.

Alabama overcame a 20-7 first-half deficit and beat No. 17 Tennessee 34-20 on Saturday in Tuscaloosa to avenge last year’s loss.

During the postgame interview on the field with CBS, Jenny Dell pointed out there is a hint of smoke in the air, and it is well documented the coach doesn’t smoke cigars.

“Well, I’ll chew on one for a while,” the Alabama coach. “I’ll tell you that.”

With that, she handed him a cigar.

“He’s going to chew on it tonight,” Dell told Milroe, who broke out into a high-pitched laugh, exclaiming “seriously.”

Milroe, who threw for 220 yards on 14 of 21 passing, threw for two touchdowns, Jihaad Campbell returned a fumble for a score in the fourth quarter and No. 11 Alabama uncorked 27 straight second-half points in rallying for the win.

“The big thing was we came out in the second half, two plays and a touchdown,” Saban said. “Changes the whole momentum of the game. It got our team excited. Got our team having energy, and we played great after that.

“The fans were great. It’s a great win for us. It’s always great to beat Tennessee. Jalen did a great job. The offense did a great jobs in the second half, but the defense shut them out in the second half, too.”

With its national title hopes on the brink, Alabama turned in its most dominant half of the season. And it came against a border rival who had helped end ‘Bama’s championship aspirations a year ago.

The comeback was fueled by big plays from Milroe and tailback Jase McClellan and a defense that smothered Joe Milton III and the Volunteers after the half.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.