Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel knows how to beat Alabama in Knoxville.
In Heupel’s two home games against the Crimson Tide during his first four seasons in Knoxville, the Vols are 2-0 against their SEC rival with wins in 2022 and 2024. Hendon Hooker led the charge in the first win while redshirt-freshman Nico Iamaleava got it done this past year.
Perhaps Heupel had a little bit of magic with him in the Food City Center on Saturday afternoon.
With the game tied at 66 and just 6:34 left on the clock, Heupel was shown on the jumbotron as he made the “smoking a cigar” motion with his hands, sending a roar through the crowd at Thompson Boling Arena.
you know the drill@Vol_Hoops 🔥 https://t.co/L3ABJebekj pic.twitter.com/uWfCReawmD
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 2, 2025
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No. 5 Tennessee ended up beating No. 6 Alabama by a score of 79-76 thanks to a buzzer-beating 35-foot three from senior guard Jahmai Mashack.
After the game, SEC Network tweeted out a picture of the Vols’ sweep over the Crimson Tide this season with a 24-17 win in football, an 88-80 win for the Lady Vols’ women’s basketball team, and a 79-76 win for the Vols on Saturday night over Nate Oats’ squad.
HOW BOUT THOSE VOLS‼️🍊@Vol_Hoops @LadyVol_Hoops @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/0ztMWnMKHC
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 1, 2025
Not to be outdone over the weekend, either, Tennessee hockey blanked Alabama on the ice on Saturday, 3-0.
Final score
🟠🟠🟠Vols 3
Tide 0— Tennessee Hockey (@IceVolsHockey) March 2, 2025
Heupel also made it to the Lady Vols’ regular-season finale against Georgia on Sunday afternoon.
Josh Heupel loves some Tennessee basketball! In the house for the #LadyVols vs Georgia game! pic.twitter.com/WLhedQbBxR
— Paige Dauer (@PaigeDauerFDP) March 2, 2025
