What the Vols Must Avoid vs. Alabama

The Tennessee Volunteers must avoid this against the Alabama Crimson Tide

Sep 20, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel during the second quarter against the UAB Blazers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

The Tennessee Volunteers are set to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday in a game that will be one of the more important games of the whole slate for the Vols as this game is set to be played on the road, which will be important enough to change playoff implications, as if the Vols win this game they will be in a great spot to make the playoffs. If they lose this game, they will have to win out and they will have to continue to have some help along the way.

The Tennessee Volunteers last game was against the Arkansas Razorbacks. A game that the Tennessee Volunteers won, however, it was not as convincing as many fans and spectators would have liked.

This trend has been the trend in both of their SEC wins this season, as they continue finding ways to win.

Tennessee Has to Avoid This Against Alabama

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel jogs during warm-ups before a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this game there was a lot to like, but some things that can not become habitual at this point of the season. The play calling has felt a bit conservative at times, but yet they still pulled out the win(s). You may not want that becoming a habit because as the season goes on and the competition continues to get more stiff, those could be open doors for other teams to capitalize.

A team like Alabama is capable of taking those extra opportunities and turning them into points, so if the Vols go up on the Tide in Tuscaloosa, they are more than likely going to have to keep applying pressure to keep them down.

At one point in the Arkansas game the Vols weren't as aggressive as they probably should have been, allowing Arkansas a few more chances to get back in this game, and they did just that. It's hard to be critical when a team continues to win, it's just a worry that it could eventually cost Tennessee a game or two given the wrong circumstances.

The term "keep your foot on their neck" is exactly what you would want to live by in this game if you are Tennessee. You don't have to be over-aggressive, especially if you are leading with the ball, but you would like to see them not mellow out as early at times with their lead.

Even though the Vols have been excellent. Joey Halzle and Josh Heupel are at the top of what they do, and this could be seen as nitpicking, but the Crimson Tide have been the hottest team in the country, which means the Vols will need to have a step up in this one. This will be a key thing to watch in the contest.

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