As Tennessee and Alabama gear up for a heated showdown on October 19, fans can’t help but remember the Vols’ thrilling victory last season, capped off by Chase McGrath’s game-winning field goal. Could history repeat itself this year? Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava certainly hopes so. With his powerful arm and impressive season stats, Iamaleava has Crimson Tide fans sweating. And, according to On3 analysts Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, Alabama’s defense might have more to worry about than they’d like.
Coming off a solid 199.5 passing yards per game, Iamaleava is looking strong. But Wasserman tempered expectations, suggesting that hitting his average might not even be necessary. “Not because I don’t think Nico’s good… but given his average output and the opponent it seems like a pretty high number doesn’t it?” Staples didn’t miss the chance to clap back, “Are you sure Alabama’s defense is good?” With Alabama barely scraping by South Carolina and shockingly falling to Vanderbilt, skepticism around the Tide’s defense is gaining ground. Even Alabama’s head coach conceded, “This is not the Alabama standard.”
Meanwhile, the Tide have been working on a plan to contain Iamaleava, a QB with a cannon for an arm and a knack for building momentum. “They get into their tempo off of positive plays, and that’s the key—try to make sure that they don’t get into that rhythm,” the Alabama HC admitted. Yet, analysts like RJ Young have pointed out some weaknesses in Iamaleava’s game, especially his struggles under pressure. Alabama’s defense hopes to exploit these, but the Vols quarterback has shown he’s capable of surprises.
With both teams itching for a win and Tennessee aiming to repeat last year’s upset, the Tide will need a strategy as fierce as their determination. Whether Alabama can rein in Iamaleava or if he’ll lead the Vols to victory once again, this game promises high drama and maybe, just maybe, another history-making moment in Neyland Stadium.
