Instant replay is used for a number of things, but officials in the Alabama-Tennessee used it to figure out what down it was when the Crimson Tide defense stopped the Volunteers in the third quarter short of a first down.

“The ruling of fourth down is under video review,” the official said during the timeout.

The stadium scoreboard said fourth down. The marker on the sidelines, however, said third down.

The CBS broadcast knew it was fourth down, and so did most of you. Nick Saban even told the official during the review it was.

CBS rules expert gene Steratore was brought in and explained it was indeed fourth down. Mostly, he admitted, because he and others went back and reviewed the plays.

Here is how it happened:

• 1st & 10 at 50: Hendon Hooker was tackled for a 3-yard loss to the Tennessee 47.
• 2nd & 13 at Tennessee 47: Hooker’s pass incomplete to Ramel Keyton
• 3rd & 13 at Tennessee 47: Alabama flagged for offsides to the Alabama 48
• 3rd & 8 at Alabama 48: Jaylen Wright run for 6 yards to the Alabama 42
• 4th & 2 at Alabama 42: Hooker pass complete to Jacob Warren for 1 yard to the Alabama 41.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.