No. 1 Alabama dominated Tennessee on Saturday.

The Tide dominated every phase and just about everyone — except Derek Barnett.

The Tennessee junior defensive lineman, once again, put his team in positions to win. Unfortunately, at times like in previous games this season, the Volunteers offense did not do enough.

And against Alabama, there was no way the defense could bail the offense out again in the second half. Saturday’s score was 49-10, but credit Barnett for making even the first half competitive.

Coming into the Alabama game, Barnett had 171 career tackles (42.5 for a loss), 24 sacks, 3 pass defections, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

Barnett added three tackles (two for a loss), one sack, one interception, and a forced fumble against Alabama.

His performance was with his hands full going against the Crimson Tide’s left tackle Cam Robinson.

It’s likely that voters will not give the junior defensive end enough recognition in voting to make an appearance in New York as a Heisman finalist, but Barnett’s meaningful impact to not only the defense – but Tennessee’s team – should not go unnoticed.

Each game, Tennessee’s offense has placed its defense in deficits and bad situations. The offense rallied to defeat Appalachian State, Ohio, Virginia Tech, Florida, and Georgia. But the past two weeks have shown that you have to play four quarters to compete with the big boys.

And Barnett’s play has solidified him as the MVP of Team 120 for allowing Tennessee to be 5-2 on the season and in position still to win the SEC East, heading down the second-half stretch of the season.

Florida now controls its destiny in winning the SEC East, but will have to face road tests at Arkansas and LSU, and also against Georgia in Jacksonville.

Barnett, the leader that he is, told reporters after the Alabama loss that he can envision a rematch with Alabama.

“We could see them again, possibly,” he said.

The defensive end also said that they will hide from the loss even with an off-week looming before the final stretch of the regular season.

“The 24-hour rule doesn’t count for the bye week,” he said. “We will watch Alabama film more closely because we could meet them again.

“We can’t let one game define our season.”

Another dominant effort Saturday certainly is helping define his.