Bishop runs for 159 yards as Tennessee shuts down Alabama, 26-10

DeSean Bishop ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 14 Tennessee held Alabama scoreless in the second half of a 26-10 win Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols forced four turnovers and allowed only 201 total yards. Alabama never led, although Tennessee’s early trouble finishing drives kept the game close until Bishop’s two five-yard scoring runs after halftime.

Tennessee improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. Alabama fell to 5-2 and 3-2, taking its second consecutive loss. The Vols have now beaten the Crimson Tide in three straight meetings in Knoxville.

A fourth-down stop gives Tennessee room to pull away

Alabama trailed only 12-10 at halftime and opened the third quarter with a chance to take control. Instead, Tennessee stopped Daniel Hill for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Vols’ 40-yard line, with Jeremiah Telander and Nathan Robinson helping close the gap.

Tennessee turned that stop into its first touchdown. George MacIntyre completed three straight passes during a nine-play, 60-yard drive, and Bishop broke a 20-yard run before finishing from five yards out. The score put the Vols ahead 19-10 with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

Their next touchdown required more patience. Tennessee held the ball for 9 minutes, 32 seconds on a 15-play, 72-yard march in the fourth quarter. Bishop again scored from the five, leaving Alabama down 16 with 3:17 remaining.

Bishop carried 32 times. MacIntyre completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards with one interception, and Mike Matthews caught seven passes for 85 yards. The Vols possessed the ball for 35:44, keeping their defense rested while making Alabama’s second-half deficit increasingly difficult to overcome.

ESPN’s highlights show the defensive stops and Bishop’s two touchdown finishes:

Four field goals keep the Vols ahead early

Cooper Ranvier supplied Tennessee’s first 12 points with field goals of 29, 33, 41 and 34 yards. The Vols repeatedly reached scoring range without finding the end zone, giving Alabama a way to stay within reach despite a difficult offensive start.

Keelon Russell scored Alabama’s only touchdown on a 19-yard run in the second quarter. Conor Talty’s 42-yard field goal just before halftime narrowed Tennessee’s lead to two points.

There was no further scoring from the Tide. Russell finished with 147 passing yards and two interceptions, while Alabama managed 54 net rushing yards and converted only two of 13 third downs.

Tennessee recorded five sacks, including two apiece from Telander and Tyree Weathersby. Dejuan Lane and Kayin Lee intercepted passes, with Lee ending Alabama’s final threat in the end zone during the last minute. The Vols’ defense had kept the game in their hands long enough for Bishop and the offense to finish it.