Alabama entered Week 7 with a 5-1 record ranked No. 7 in the nation and was favored to beat Tennessee on the road. Tennessee QB Faizon Brandon's availability for the game was shared with one major catch as Alabama QB Keelon Russell ended up dueling with George MacIntyre.
The Crimson Tide trailed 9-0 in the early going as Russell took matters into his own hands. He scrambled from the 19 yard-line into the end zone to draw Alabama to within two points.
The young Alabama star had just seven yards passing as of the two-minute warning of the first half as he drove his team deep into Tennessee territory down 12-7. Russell continued to work out the kinks in a hostile environment as he looked to take the lead from the Volunteers late in the first half.