Alabama will head into Saturday’s ranked road matchup against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium without at least two key starters after the Crimson Tide’s Friday injury report listed center Racin Delgatty as out with a lower-body injury.
No. 6 Alabama (5-1, 3-1 SEC) faces No. 14 Tennessee (5-1) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC in the latest edition of the Third Saturday in October rivalry. The Crimson Tide enter seeking their first win in Knoxville since 2020 after dropping last week’s home game to No. 1 Georgia 20-17.
Delgatty, who started all six games this season at center after transferring from Cal Poly, was downgraded and ultimately ruled out after suffering the lower-leg injury late in the Georgia loss. He had been listed as doubtful earlier in the week.
“Just with his lower-body injury, lower leg injury, just continue to evaluate him and kind of see where he’s at in the days ahead,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday. “So obviously, he’ll be pretty sore and kind of working through things and limited for sure early in the week. We’ll certainly get some reps with other guys, and in particular probably Mal Waldrep, Casey Poe, guys like that.”
The Friday report also listed several other Alabama players as out: wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, linebackers Desmond Umeozulu and Cayden Jones, defensive back Nick Sherman, and defensive linemen Jeremiah Beaman and Terrance Green. Linebacker Justin Hill was probable, and tight end Josh Ford was questionable.
Coleman-Williams, one of Alabama’s top receiving threats, will miss the game after dealing with a knee issue that had lingered and a head injury sustained in the fourth quarter against Georgia. He returned from an earlier leg injury in that contest but did not finish.
“Has got a couple things going on,” DeBoer said. “Got to work through an injury with knee that’s been kind of going on. We’ll deal with that. Got the head issue, as well. Gonna address that, even the lower extremity there, this week. Pretty good chance we wouldn’t have him here this weekend. Probably be week-to-week after that.”
Coleman-Williams has 23 receptions for 416 yards and four touchdowns this season, leading the team in receiving production. Alabama may explore giving him additional recovery time after this game, with a home date against Texas A&M next week followed by a bye before a Nov. 7 road game at LSU.
Alabama’s offense ranks among the nation’s most productive units, averaging 44.2 points and 452.5 total yards per game. The Crimson Tide average 270.3 passing yards and 182.2 rushing yards. Without Coleman-Williams and with a potential change at center, the line and skill positions will need to adjust on the road.
Alabama holds a 60-40-7 all-time series lead over Tennessee across 108 meetings dating to 1901. The Crimson Tide won last year’s meeting 37-20 in Tuscaloosa, but Tennessee has taken the last two games played in Knoxville, including a 24-17 victory in 2024.
Alabama is a 7.5-point favorite in most betting markets, with the over/under set around 50.5 points. The Crimson Tide are 4-2 against the spread this season.
Tennessee’s only loss came earlier this season to Texas. The Volunteers rank high in the SEC in total defense and feature a strong rushing attack that averages more than 228 yards per game.
Alabama’s remaining schedule includes the Texas A&M home game, the LSU trip, and a late-season matchup against Auburn. A loss in Knoxville would mark consecutive regular-season defeats for the first time under DeBoer in his Alabama tenure.
The Crimson Tide have won 17 of the past 19 meetings in the series overall. Tennessee will look to leverage home-field advantage and Alabama’s absences in front of a capacity crowd at Neyland Stadium.
