It appeared to get especially ugly for Tennessee late in the third quarter against Alabama. Then the Vols got a big play from their defense.

That’s when Tennessee inside linebacker Daniel Bituli picked off Alabama backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and returned the ball 97 yards for a touchdown with 6:03 left in the third quarter. It cut the Alabama lead to 28-7.

It was the first touchdown for the Vols since Sept. 23 and the second quarter against UMass, a streak of 12 quarters.