Tennessee football is set to play its second true road game of the year tomorrow when it meets Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Vols and Tide will square off inside Bryant-Denny Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET with the game airing on ABC.
Before kick-off, I dove into the numbers, with the help of UT’s game notes, to get a better look at what to expect in the game.
Here are three numbers to keep in mind as you’re watching the game.
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48.2
Nobody in the country is scoring more points per game than Tennessee football. Even after the number dropped following the win over Arkansas, the 48.2 points per contest leads the SEC and the country.
This naturally means the Vols are near the top of the country in a lot of offensive categories. In terms of first downs, Tennessee has earned 161. This is the most in the SEC and the third most in the country. In passing yards, the Vols throw for 317.8 yards per game, the most in the SEC and seventh in the country. For rushing yards, it’s at 210 yards for third in the conference and 22nd in the country.
In total offense, Tennessee is producing 527.8 yards per game, which leads the SEC and is fourth in the country.
4.33
Tennessee is absolutely dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The pass rush has created a staggering 4.33 sacks per game, which tops the country. Conversely, Alabama has allowed 2.17 sacks per game. That ranks 10th in the SEC and 89th in the country.
On the other side of the ball, UT is allowing just 0.67 sacks per game. That’s a total of four on the season through six games. This is the top mark in the SEC and eighth in the country. The Tide are producing 1.5 sacks per game on defense, which is just 11th in the conference and 99th in the country.
Looking at tackles for loss on defense, Tennessee is coming up with 8.3 per game, which ranks second in the SEC and fifth in the country. Alabama is at 4.8, which is 11th in the SEC and 94th in the country.
3
There are some absurd numbers on defense that former Vols have put up in games against Alabama. The Tennessee record for sacks in a game against the Tide? Three from Reggie White in 1983. The school record for interceptions against Alabama? Three from Tim Priest in 1970, and one other instance prior.
Perhaps the craziest number is 25 tackles in one game, posted by Greg Jones in 1976. Solo tackles is held by Keith DeLong’s 19 against the Tide in 1988.
Of course, it’ll take a truly remarkable game for anyone to touch Jalin Hyatt’s school record vs. Alabama of 207 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2022. The following year, Squirrel White set the receptions record in the series at 10.
