Alabama vs. Tennessee: Initial availability report drops for Week 8 matchup
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Alabama and Tennessee are preparing to battle in 2024’s edition of the Third Saturday in October rivalry game.
Both No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee enter the contest at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Both teams are coming off of hard-fought SEC wins in Week 7 after suffering disappointing losses in Week 6.
Ahead of this matchup, the teams released an initial availability report. SEC teams are required to release this report each Wednesday before a game. Alabama and Tennessee both listed 5 players on Wednesday’s report. The Vols have 3 players listed as out, 1 as questionable, and 1 as probable. The Tide have 1 player listed as out, 1 as questionable, and 3 as probable.
On Tennessee’s side, the notable name is Keenan Pili. Pili will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 7. Pili is tied for the team lead with 29 tackles, so this will be a huge loss in the middle of the Tennessee defense and will likely lead to some growing pains in the Vols’ first game without him.
Linebacker Edwin Spillman and defensive back Jourdan Thomas are also listed as out. Backup running back Cameron Seldon is listed as questionable while starting left tackle Lance Heard is probable.
For the Tide, LB Cayden Jones is the only player listed as out. Linebacker Yhonzae Pierre is questionable while defensive back Domani Jackson and wide receivers Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice are all probable.
Jackson has 21 tackles on the season and is tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions, so his presence would be missed if he can’t suit up. He did briefly leave the South Carolina game, but returned and brought in the game-sealing interception. Law and Prentice would be welcome additions to a WR group that has seen 17-year-old Ryan Williams do most of the heavy lifting.
Tennessee and Alabama do battle at 3:30 p.m. on ABC this Saturday. Alabama is a 3-point favorite at DraftKings.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
