The No. 6 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide matchup against the No. 14 ranked Tennessee Volunteers is one of the biggest games on the college football schedule this season, and several Crimson Tide players could have a major impact, making game-changing plays and shutting down the Volunteers.
Alabama Players To Watch Against Tennessee
1. Bray Hubbard — Safety
Bray Hubbard is a top defensive player for Alabama’s defense vs. Tennessee. Hubbard last season against Tennessee decided it as a bloodbath. Hubbard led the team in tackles in that game, recording seven.
This is Hubbard’s last season at Alabama. He had a chance to get drafted, but he decided to return for his last year. At the beginning of the season, Hubbard was named captain of the defense. Hubbard can most certainly be one of the impact players against Tennessee, shutting down the run and the pass coverage.
The Alabama safety will definitely be a player to keep an eye on. He is not scared of sacking the quarterback; he kind of reminds you of a Ray Lewis-type player, not scared of hitting you hard.
2. Keelon Russell — Quarterback
Keelon Russell’s next challenge comes against No. 14 Tennessee, and he’ll enter the matchup looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.
Alabama suffered its first loss of the season this past Saturday, falling 20–17 to the Bulldogs in a tightly contested game. Russell finished with 185 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 41 rushing yards, but the Crimson Tide couldn’t find enough offense late in the game.
Now, Alabama heads to Knoxville for one of college football’s biggest rivalries. The Crimson Tide will face Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, giving Russell another major opportunity to prove himself on the road.
After emerging as one of the nation’s most talked-about quarterbacks earlier in the season, Russell now faces his first real test coming off a disappointing performance. Tennessee’s defense will look to make things difficult for the sophomore quarterback, while Russell will try to get Alabama back on track.
With the Crimson Tide still ranked No. 6 in the country, the pressure is on Russell to respond. A strong performance against Tennessee could go a long way toward putting both Alabama and Russell’s Heisman hopes back on the right track.
3. Ryan Coleman-Williams — Wide Receiver
After Alabama’s playoff loss to the Indiana Hoosiers last season, Ryan Coleman-Williams made it clear that he was ready to do whatever the team needed to get back on track.
We didn’t finish the way we wanted to, and we have another opportunity this year, Coleman-Williams said. “Any way that I could be what’s best for the team from that point forward, I wanted to be it.
That mindset has carried into the 2026 season. Six weeks into the year, Coleman-Williams has emerged as one of Alabama’s most reliable weapons, recording 376 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
He has also formed an explosive receiving duo with Lotzeir Brooks, giving Alabama multiple threats for opposing defenses to account for.
Now, the wideout faces another major test.
With the Crimson Tide looking to bounce back after a loss, Coleman-Williams could play a major role in getting the offense back on track.
Tennessee will have to find a way to slow down both Coleman-Williams and Brooks, while Alabama will look to its receiving duo to create opportunities against the Volunteers.
For Coleman-Williams, it’s another chance to show that his strong start to the season is only the beginning.
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