Another second-half rally saved Alabama football, this time coming in the latest edition of a historic rivalry game.

Facing its largest halftime deficit since 2019, quarterback Jalen Milroe bounced back from a pair of turnovers to deliver an explosive offense for the 11th-ranked Tide (7-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) in its comeback effort against No. 17 Tennessee. He produced 223 yards of offense, including two touchdowns to please a rocking Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd.

A year after the Neyland Stadium faithful got to spark a victory cigar, it was Tuscaloosa’s turn following the 34-20 final score. Here are our takeaways from the Third Saturday in October.

Alabama’s feast-or-famine offense hungry in 1st half, eating good in 2nd

While Tennessee’s offense was showing shades of its 2022 efficiency early, the Tide was producing the opposite. Alabama tried to utilize jet-sweep and motion plays but the timing was off and the offensive line continued to leak. And after two weeks of protecting the ball, Milroe committed a pair of turnovers: he was stripped in the pocket and threw a red-zone pick after his pass bounced off Jermaine Burton’s shoulder plate and into that of a Tennessee defender.

UA quickly fell into a 13-0 deficit and had managed just one first down while the Vols produced 10. But Alabama’s Mr. Hyde made way for the explosive Dr. Jekyll and the comeback was on in the second half.

Alabama scored on its opening three possessions, most of which featured quick strikes. A 29-yard run by Jase McClellan was matched by a 46-yard pass to Isaiah Bond for a two-play scoring drive. The defense then forced a three-and-out and six plays later Alabama kicked a field goal. Then following a Tennessee turnover on downs at midfield, McClellan capped a five-play, 47-yard drive.

As it did against Ole Miss and Texas A&M, Alabama came alive after intermission, turning a 20-7 deficit to a 27-20 lead with a 50-yard Will Reichard field goal halfway through the final frame.

The Alabama defense finally solves Tennesee’s offense

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was in his bag early. The Volunteers’ wide formation allowed wide receivers to operate in space. Dylan Sampson churned out a few early runs. And the ghost of Jalyin Hyatt (five touchdowns a year ago in this game) manifested through Squirrel White, who caught a bulk of his nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in the opening quarter. The highlight was a 39-yard touchdown scored on a mismatch, White over outside linebacker Chris Braswell.

However, Alabama’s pass rush started to collapse the pocket and the coverage eventually tightened. Joe Milton overthrew two receivers on third-and-goal, forcing UT to settle for field goals. Alabama also prevented two fourth-down short-yardage conversions near midfield to give the ball back to its struggling offense. Tennesseee produced 374 yards of offense, 187 came in the first quarter.

Milton was sacked four times. The putaway stop came in the fourth quarter when Tennessee trailed by seven points and Braswell forced a Milton fumble. Jihaad Campbell finished the 24-yard scoop-and-score, leading to a roar from the stands and home sideline.

It was Alabama’s second-largest second-half comeback in the Nick Saban era (Georgia, 2018 SEC championship).

Start of a new streak for Tide

Players on both sides of the rivalry didn’t take the bait from reporters during the week who asked if this weekend meant more after last year — the Volunteers started a party last year with a game-winning field goal, leading to a somber postgame Tide locker room. The most linebacker Deontae Lawson would say is that 2022 “left a bad taste.”

The home crowd matched Neyland Stadium’s energy with one of its best showings of the year. The lower bowl was nearly full at the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff. According to UT media, it’s the 20th time the programs met as ranked teams on CBS. This is the conference’s last season with an exclusive weekly game going to CBS, it’ll move to ESPN/ABC next year.

Due to Alabama’s comeback, the Tide now holds a 60-38-8 record against one of its oldest opponents. Coincidentally, the schools disagree on the all-time series results. The Volunteers credited a past Alabama forfeit as a Tennessee win.

The rematch will head to Knoxville in 2024, the last scheduled meeting between the sides as the conference decides its long-term scheduling future.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].