INGLEWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Chargers honored their alumni players on Sunday. They really needed LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and company on the field against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts routed the Chargers 38-24 to improve their record to an AFC-best 6-1. It’s Indy’s best start since 2009. The Colts began the contest with three straight touchdown drives as they galloped to a 20-3 first-half lead. Indianapolis added a field goal after a Justin Herbert interception to build a 23-3 halftime advantage.

Los Angeles made the contest respectable in the second half, but Jonathan Taylor and the Colts maintained a comfortable lead.

“(Jonathan Taylor) with a couple really big runs down there. That makes it easy for us when he does that,” Colts QB Daniel Jones said. “I think it’s just being prepared, knowing what to expect (and) executing. Today we got a couple of looks that were a little bit different. I thought we did a good job with that. I think the gameplan and the preparation has been really big.”

The NFL’s top scoring offense scored on six of their first seven possessions, including five touchdown drives against a defenseless Chargers defense. Jones passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor showed his versatility on the ground and through the air. The Colts star compiled 132 yards from scrimmage (94 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards) and three touchdowns. It was his third touchdown hat trick of the regular season. The Colts running back is the third player in the past 20 seasons with three games of three-or-more rushing touchdowns in a season. Futhermore, he’s the only AFC player with at least 85 scrimmage yards in each of the first seven weeks.

“I mean the things JT is doing is kind of crazy,” Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. “He’s a threat to score anywhere, like on the field. Like we’d be backed up, we could be in the red zone, like JT is going to get the ball and he’s going to go. So, it just keeps us going.”

The running back is an Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner as the NFL approaches its midway point of the regular season. A running back has won the award in three of the past five seasons, including the last two years.

While Jones is having a career renaissance, Taylor is the engine to Indy’s offense.

“It’s just a testament, of course, to the hard work that I’ve put in individually, but then also collectively as a team,” Taylor said postgame. “What we’ve put in throughout training camp to be able to execute at a high level.”

Taylor entered Week 7 with a league-leading 603 rushing yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage. He’s now increased his total to 697 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage.

“I think we’re just hitting on all cylinders right now,” Taylor said.

The Colts are “hitting on all cylinders right now” and Taylor is leading the charge.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

The 2025-26 NBA season is about to begin, but several teams are already being forced to press forward without key players on their respective rosters.

The season will officially begin on Tuesday, Oct. 21, with the Houston Rockets taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors taking on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, forward

Tatum has not officially been ruled out for the 2025-26 season. However, his Achilles injury will still likely force him to miss a significant amount of the season. He posted a video on social media of himself back on the court at the end of September, just four months after suffering the injury and having surgery.

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers, guard

Garland participated in a scrimmage last week, according to Cleveland.com. Garland played with a turf toe injury during the final part of the season and forced him to be a limited participant during the postseason. He did have surgery during the offseason. Garland is expected to be back at the start of November, according to ESPN.

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, guard

Irving is not expected to make a return to the court until the start of 2026. Irving is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in March. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd shut down the thought of Irving being “ahead of schedule” when speaking to reporters at the team’s media day session.

Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets, guard

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, guard

Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season after suffering an Achilles injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The guard did have surgery on his right Achilles tendon during the offseason.

T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers, guard

McConnell is suffering from a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action for a month, according to WTHR Channel 13 in Indianapolis. He is expected to return in mid-November.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, forward

James is not expected to play in the Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. He is dealing with sciatica, which is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching or compression of the sciatic nerve. He’s not expected to make his season debut until mid-November, according to ESPN reporter Shams Charania.

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies, center

Edey has been cleared to begin ramping up his basketball activity as he recovers from a left ankle injury. He isn’t expected to be available until early November, according to ESPN. The big man had surgery in early June.

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat, guard

Herro will not play in the season opener against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, Oct. 22, after he underwent surgery for a left foot/ankle injury in mid-September. After speaking at media day, the guard expects to be available to return in mid-November, according to The Sporting News.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, forward

Williams underwent surgery in July for a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. His status is uncertain for the Thunder’s season opener against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers, guard

McCain underwent surgery during the offseason to repair a torn UCL. He is expected to be re-evaluated in early November, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. The guard has participated in 5-on-5 workouts as he continues to work his way back.

Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns, guard

Green aggravated his hamstring injury during the Suns’ trip to China during the preseason. He’s expected to be evaluated later this week, according to ArizonaSports.com. He’s likely to miss the Suns’ season opener against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, guard

Lillard is expected to miss the entire season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. He underwent surgery in May. After the Bucks bought him out, the guard returned to Portland to continue his rehab.

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, center

Sabonis is expected to miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury. He has a grade 1 strain and is expected to be re-evaluated next week.

Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings, forward 

De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs, guard

Fox is doubtful for the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to the Athletic. He is dealing with a hamstring injury.

AI-assisted summary
• Jalen Hurts achieved a perfect passer rating in the Eagles’ 28-22 victory over the Vikings.
• Hurts threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combining for over 300 receiving yards.
• The quarterback completed all five of his deep pass attempts for a career-high 215 yards against Minnesota’s defense.

For all of the criticisms of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense and Jalen Hurts, the Super Bowl 59 MVP’s ability to throw the deep ball has never been at issue.

And when Hurts delivers the pigskin the way he did Sunday in a 28-22 win over the Minnesota Vikings? 

Well, that’s why – and it’s another reason Philadelphia is suited to weather whatever tempest comes its way (be it in the form of an opposing defense or wide receiver A.J. Brown tweet). 

Hurts had one fewer touchdown (three) than incompletions (four) in Sunday’s win. He became the first quarterback in 2025 to finish with a perfect passer rating (158.3) and turned in his first 300-yard passing game – finishing with 326 yards on 19-for-23 passing – since Week 3 of last season. 

“You don’t have a game like that without the guys around you,” Hurts told reporters after the game.

Brown had touchdown catches of 37 and 26 yards, and finished with four catches for 121 yards. DeVonta Smith went off for 183 yards and nine catches (11 targets). 

And when it came time to ice the game in the fourth-quarter following a Vikings’ late charge, the Eagles didn’t keep the ball on the ground. They went with what had worked all day. Hurts found Brown – who burned ex-Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers – on third-and-nine for a deep ball that went into the books as a 45-yard completion.

Hurts averaged 14.2 yards per attempt – his previous career high for a full game he played was 11.8 – despite entering below the league-average in that category (6.8). Hurts completed all five deep passes (20 or more yards) for a career-high 215 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Vikings, according to Next Gen Stats. The Vikings defense had allowed only three deep completions all season entering Week 7.

“Jalen has a knack for throwing those deep balls,” head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters after the game. “And our guys can run and get under them.” 

Hurts posts career numbers against Brian Flores’ stingy defense

The advanced stats further illuminated Hurts’ performance. Based on EPA per pass play, it was the second-best game of Hurts’ career. And by the same metric, it was the second-best game by any quarterback against a defense led by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in the last three years, according to The Athletic. 

“The thing was to come in and establish the run, and the game just flowed the way it did,” Hurts said. “We were able to be efficient in the pass game.” 

Ten days after his deep-shot error to Smith became a lowlight, Hurts did not miss the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner this time and the two connected for a 79-yard score in the third quarter to increase Philadelphia’s lead to 21-9. That came on an under-center play-action fake, a good sign from Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after right tackle Lane Johnson revealed the Eagles were too predictable following two straight losses to the Denver Broncos and New York Giants. 

“We had a lot of confidence in that look,” Hurts said. “He was tripping about it and it ended up being called.” 

Identity is important, Hurts said, but so is the ability to win games in a variety of ways. 

The Eagles still can’t run the ball, as running back Saquon Barkley finished with 44 yards on 18 carries (2.4 yards per carry). Hurts said the Eagles are still “ironing things out” when it comes to being a well-rounded offense. Center Cam Jurgens exited Sunday’s game with a knee injury, and left guard Landon Dickerson continues to play hurt. 

“It’s good to be critical when we’re winning,” Hurts said.

TORONTO — Game 7 never gets old. Nor does it ever fail to humble even the greatest players to grace the October stage.

Max Scherzer is about to embark on his 11^th winner-take-all game in his storied major league career, and in the moments after his Toronto Blue Jays kept their season alive with a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, his mental record book was whirring, taking him back to his playoff debut as a 26-year-old all the way through the two World Series championships he’s netted in the past six years.

“God, another one,” says Scherzer, stomping a bit and shaking his head, as is his wont. “I’m just walking around, going through all my Game 7s, my Game 5s, elimination games, last day, all these moments and you remember all of them.

“To get another one? My gosh. These are just so special, so hard to get to, that to get another crack at it – this is what you live for.”

Scherzer kept private what he plans to impart to his mates, but it will be experience borne of seven Division Series Game 5s, one wild card game, an ALCS Game 7 and of course, Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, when Scherzer started the clincher for the Washington Nationals two days after getting scratched from a start due to a debilitating neck malady.

And that’s exactly the sort of sacrifice the Mariners and Blue Jays expect up and down the roster in what should be a titillating evening of baseball at Rogers Centre.

Let’s take a peek inside the latest installment of baseball’s ultimate win-or-go-home drama:

Who’s available? Everybody

In the hours between the Blue Jays’ crushing Game 5 loss to Seattle and their Game 6 revival, closer Jeff Hoffman was chatting with his wife about what might be expected of him the next two nights.

“We were talking about the potential of me throwing multiple innings today, or maybe tomorrow, or maybe both. Who knows what it will call for?” says Hoffman, who in fact threw two near-perfect innings in Game 6, striking out four of the seven batters he faced.

“She asked me, ‘Are you good to do that?’ And it’s like, there’s no choice. You’re good to do it. If that’s what the team needs you to do, you go out and do it and worry about tomorrow the next day.”

With that in mind, both clubs are in decent shape. The Blue Jays did burn Hoffman for two innings and set-up man Louis Varland for four outs, but stayed away from fireballing Seranthony Dominguez, who should be available for an extended stint in Game 7.

The Mariners used top set-up man Matt Brash for an inning and Eduard Bazardo for two. But lefty Gabe Speier got a needed night off and closer Andres Muñoz did not pitch. He will almost certainly be called upon for multiple innings if the Mariners hold a late lead or – egad! – the game goes extra innings.

In short: Relievers are already built to pitch until their arms come off – and both units are in good shape.

All hands on deck

There’s nothing that makes the heart jump in an elimination game than a starter warming up in the bullpen. And both Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber and Mariners counterpart George Kirby will have a troika of veterans behind them.

Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Luis Castillo will all be available behind Kirby, who gave up eight runs in his Game 3 start.

As for the Blue Jays, Scherzer, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt are all available to provide length if Bieber hits the wall early. Or, to put out a fire as needed.  

“If you like postseason baseball, this is what it’s all about,” says Gausman. “You might see Max Scherzer in the fifth inning. You might see me later in the game. This is kind of what it is.

“As a player, this is what we want. We’ve all been grinding since Feb. 1^st, even before then, so now we win one game, we’re going to the World Series.”

Managerial mindsets

Game 6 was a balm for Blue Jays manager John Schneider, whose decision to deploy inconsistent lefty Brendon Little in Game 5 blew up and put his club in a win-or-go-home stance.

Now, the mental edge may have shifted, what with the Blue Jays having already stared down their mortality.

Heck, Schneider himself sounds like a dude who just got a stay of execution.

“It’s pretty frickin’ cool that we are where we are. I’m not going to lie,” he said after Game 6. “You got to keep your foot on the gas and get ready for tomorrow.

This is what we sign up for. Whenever you can play for Game 7 to go to the World Series, it sounds kind of cool to say it, you know. But this is why we sacrifice everything. It’s why players sacrifice everything.

“This team, this group of men, are special. You never know where the journey’s going lead. It leads to a Game 7 in the ALCS and that’s frickin’ awesome.

“Again, man, when spring training starts, and you say, hey, you got one game to win to go to the World Series, you take that every single time.”

For the record, that’s two “frickins” and one “cool” and “awesome” apiece.

How about you, Seattle manager Dan Wilson?

“So we’ll make our adjustments offensively tomorrow, and we’ll be ready to go Game 7,” he said after a night the club grounded into double plays in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

“I mean, this is the time to make those adjustments and baseball’s a game of adjustments, and they will be able to do that tomorrow night and ready to go.”

Vibe check? Advantage, Blue Jays.

Heavy history

Both clubs were born in 1977. Yet the Mariners have never played in a Game 7.

Toronto has a more storied history, with consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and ’93. Yet it’s been 40 years since they’ve played a Game 7, when they blew a 3-1 lead to the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 ALCS.

The ALCS has been an unkind hurdle to both clubs the past quarter-century. Toronto lost in six games to Kansas City in 2015 and five games to Cleveland in 2016, while Seattle succumbed to the New York Yankees in 2000 and 2001.

They’d never been one game away from a World Series in their history, until Eugenio Suárez’s grand slam won them Game 5. They’re still waiting, and now must contend with what could be an evenly-matched and excruciating Game 7 for both squads.

Prediction: Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4

The NBA season is nearly underway, and the Oklahoma City Thunder look poised to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors in 2018 to win back-to-back titles. Of course, there are 29 other teams looking to ensure that does not happen.

Players are returning from injury. Big moves during the offseason could lead to new, unforeseen rises from contenders. All it takes is one slip-up or injury to derail an entire campaign. Of course, that is unpredictable. All we can look at is each team’s potential and weigh it against its risk.

That’s essentially what preseason odds are, in a sense. Assessing each team’s potential and weighing it against reality. With the season starting Tuesday, Oct. 21, here is every team in the league ranked by its championship odds. All odds via BetMGM:

NBA power rankings by championship odds

The favorites

1) Oklahoma City Thunder (+240)

2) Denver Nuggets (+550)

3) Cleveland Cavaliers (+750)

4) New York Knicks (+900)

5) Minnesota Timberwolves (+1300)

6) Houston Rockets (+1400)

7) Los Angeles Lakers (+1600)

T-8) Orlando Magic (+1800)

T-8) Los Angeles Clippers (+1800)

Among this group, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the clearest path to an NBA championship. If not for a magical run by the Indiana Pacers a year ago, we may have watched the Thunder duke it out with the Cavaliers in the Finals. Now, with Indiana’s best player, Tyrese Haliburton, out for the season, Cleveland has an opportunity.

Meanwhile, the West is full of strong contenders, and while Oklahoma City stands above the rest, there is a lot of competition, meaning less room for error. Furthermore, the Thunder have targets on their backs now.

The dark horses

10) Golden State Warriors (+2500)

11) Detroit Pistons (+3300)

T-12) Atlanta Hawks (+4000)

T-12) Philadelphia 76ers (+4000)

T-12) Dallas Mavericks (+4000)

People seem to forget that the Golden State Warriors were 23-7 with Jimmy Butler last season. That’s a .767 win percentage, which would have been the best record in the Western Conference. Given that Butler, Curry, and Draymond Green are all a year older now, there’s reason to believe the team will regress. However, given their odds are substantially lower than the top-nine teams in the league, they could be worthy of a flier.

The underdogs

15) Milwaukee Bucks (+5500)

T-16) Boston Celtics (+6600)

T-16) San Antonio Spurs (+6600)

T-18) Indiana Pacers (+10000)

T-18) Toronto Raptors (+10000)

20) Memphis Grizzlies (+12500)

21) Miami Heat (+20000)

22) New Orleans Pelicans (+30000)

The San Antonio Spurs have hit on virtually every draft pick they’ve had in recent memory, and while we don’t quite know what to expect from Victor Wembanyama after he missed a good chunk of time a season ago, we can still assume he’ll be one of the most dominant defensive forces in the NBA, making everyone else’s job on that team that much easier.

While the loss of Chris Paul could certainly come back to haunt the Spurs — every team seems to be better with Paul and worse without him — the extension the team granted to De’Aaron Fox has solidified the team’s young core for the foreseeable future. This could be the first year the Spurs make a massive jump in the standings if everyone stays healthy.

The long shots

T-23) Chicago Bulls (+50000)

T-23) Phoenix Suns (+50000)

T-23) Portland Trail Blazers (+50000)

T-23) Sacramento Kings (+50000)

T-27) Brooklyn Nets (+100000)

T-27) Charlotte Hornets (+100000)

T-27) Washington Wizards (+100000)

T-27) Utah Jazz (+100000)

There isn’t much to like with any of these squads, but if you had to bet on one team exceeding expectations this year, the Sacramento Kings could be a slight sleeper pick. The team won 40 games a season ago with a positive point differential. The Kings have more talent than most people realize and just upgraded at point guard with the addition of Dennis Schroder. Don’t be shocked if this team finishes over .500 and makes a push for a spot in the playoffs.

When does the NBA season start?

The NBA season tips off with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The first game will be a showdown in Oklahoma City as the defending champion Thunder raise their banner in a matchup against the Houston Rockets. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

The second game of the night will see the Golden State Warriors travel south to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (although LeBron James has been ruled out for the game against Steph Curry and Co.). The game will start at 10 p.m. ET.

Those College Football Playoff hopes for Notre Dame? 

They’re doing just fine.

The 15th-ranked Fighting Irish ensured their bid to get back to the national championship title game is far from over with their running game leading a 34-24 defeat of No. 21 Southern California in the 96th Battle of the Jeweled Shillelagh.

It was only the seventh game of the season for Notre Dame, but it was the one that would decide the fate of the rest of the campaign. It couldn’t afford another loss after opening with close defeats to Miami and Texas A&M.

The Fighting Irish played with the necessary urgency, running for 306 yards, led by a career day by Jeremiyah Love. The junior running back piled up a career-high 228 yards and one touchdown on the ground on just 24 carries for an average 9.5 yards per carry. It was the most rushing yards for a Notre Dame player in Notre Dame Stadium history.

‘We just played our butts off, and when the opportunity presented itself, we executed,’ Love said.

Love was complimented by 87 rushing yards from fellow back Jadarian Price, but his impact went beyond the running game. 

After USC rallied in the second half to take a 24-21 lead in the third quarter, Price took the ensuing kickoff 100-yards to the house and sent the Notre Dame faithful into a frenzy. Between Love and Price, the dynamic duo combined for 436 total yards.

‘It’s not very common in life to see two guys that are so talented that deserve the ball in their hand every snap, but choose to put the team in front of themselves and then make the most of their opportunities,’ Freeman said.

The strong performance from the running backs delivered what Freeman wanted in the rivalry matchup: a physical, ‘bloody’ performance. He believed which ever team proved its toughness at the line of scrimmage would emerge on top, and the steady rain in South Bend forced both teams to focus on the ground game.

On both sides, it all pointed to a Fighting Irish win. Not only did Notre Dame dominate on the ground, but it limited the Trojan rushing attack to 68 yards.

‘It was going to be one in the trenches,’ Freeman said. ‘We weren’t going to be able to throw up the ball a lot in the second half because of the moisture and the weather. That’s what we want.

‘That’s our edge. We got to be we got to play the game in a physical matter,’ he added.

Notre Dame has now won five consecutive games, but most importantly got its first ranked win of the season. Even if the Trojans fall out of the US LBM coaches poll, it’s a big resume booster that the Fighting Irish need to secure a spot in the playoff if they can win the rest of the games.

Costly mistakes dooms USC

The Trojans had a chance to reclaim the lead several times in the second half but were undone by too many mistakes. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw an interception, but it was a failed trick play in the fourth quarter that really killed any momentum the Trojans had.

They attempted a reverse-pass play with receiver Makai Lemon, but he fumbled while looking to throw the ball. Notre Dame recovered for a key turning point in the game. It was one of three turnovers committed by USC. Notre Dame had just one.

It’s the failed trick play that was haunting Riley after the loss.

‘Stupid call, stupid call,’ he said.

Notre Dame was able to add another touchdown to make it a 10-point game and USC couldn’t cut the deficit, shut out in the final frame.

It’s a difficult loss for USC and Riley after showing signs of life in a win over Michigan last week. Although it wasn’t a conference win, the Trojans are 5-2 and the path to its first playoff appearance gets more difficult, especially with a road trip to Oregon later in the season.  

• Kalen DeBoer dressed in his black assassin’s hoodie, and Alabama zapped another ranked opponent. This time, Tennessee fell victim.
• If Ty Simpson keeps playing like this, he’ll be a Heisman Trophy finalist.
• Interception swings game to Alabama.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Must be the hoodie.

Couldn’t just be that Kalen DeBoer has become the best big-game coach in the country.

Seriously. Look it up. Peep his record against ranked opponents. It’s mind-bogglingly brilliant.

Couldn’t just be that DeBoer’s got Alabama playing like it intends to spend the first Saturday of December in Atlanta, competing for an SEC championship. And it couldn’t just be that he’s got his quarterback playing like he’ll be in New York City the following week.

Nah, it must be that “black hoodie of death.”

A mere seven weeks ago, Alabama and its coach were the butt of the joke.

Now, he’s Darth DeBoer. His No. 6 Crimson Tide just zapped a fourth straight ranked opponent, felling No. 11 Tennessee 37-20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama fans were ready for a bloodletting after DeBoer’s second season as the GOAT’s heir started with a pathetic performance in a loss at Florida State.

Boosters were grumbling, and the mood was such that one fan played the Powerball with hopes of winning so she could personally cover DeBoer’s buyout that tops $60 million and run him out of town. Seriously.

Better save those shekels. If Alabama keeps this up, this season will include bonuses, not buyouts, for DeBoer.

From Penn State to LSU and lands in between, what opposing fan bases would give for a coach with DeBoer’s 19-3 career record against ranked opponents, or his now 14-2 record in that assassin’s hoodie. All other game-day attire has been retired. DeBoer ought to burn that red polo he wore against Florida State, but he protected the precious hoodie from cigar smoke while players enjoyed a puff, as is tradition after the Third Saturday in October rivalry.

‘I told the guys not to get any ashes on it,’ DeBoer quipped.

Alabama, Ty Simpson continue march toward SEC championship game

Inside the messy SEC, only Texas A&M remains undefeated, but who wants to take on Alabama? It’s toppled Georgia and halted the nation’s longest home winning streak. It regained its honor against Vanderbilt. It survived Missouri. It mauled Tennessee.

Nobody should take wins like these for granted in perilous times like these, inside this unforgiving conference, not when Texas needs overtime to survive Kentucky, and Texas A&M is pushed to the brink by Arkansas and LSU’s losing to Vanderbilt.

These aren’t the 2022 Vols, and their pass defense is especially vulnerable. Quarterback Ty Simpson took full advantage, deftly passing for 253 yards. Tennessee fits into that middle glob of SEC teams that are pretty good, but not great. Alabama’s established itself onto a higher tier.

No, I’m not declaring Alabama “back,” because what does that even mean? Nick Saban’s dynasty is finished. This six-game win streak doesn’t change that. What this does do is establish Alabama as a top playoff contender, maybe even the SEC’s best national championship contender.

Anyway, Alabama’s not winning with the joyless murderball style that became the hallmark of Saban’s peak. This is a quarterback-fueled uprising.

Simpson’s playing as well as any quarterback south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and his wide receivers are some of the finest this side of Columbus, Ohio.

On Alabama’s first drive, Simpson faced peril. Two pass rushers had him pinned in — or so it seemed. He danced in the end zone to buy time, then fired a strike to Josh Cuevas to move the chains on third down. That entire first drive — a 91-yard march — became a master class of quarterbacking by this veteran who sat behind Bryce Young, then Jalen Milroe, and waited his turn to become a star in a transfer age. He went from a preseason question mark to a midseason premier asset.

Tide turns to Alabama on pivotal interception

Good as he was, Simpson’s arm didn’t deliver this victory.

This one swung on a 14-point twist on the final play before halftime. Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar flipped a pass toward the end zone, where Miles Kitselman was running an out route toward the pylon.

If Aguilar’s pass had found its mark, the Vols would have gone to their locker room trailing by just two points, having stolen the momentum. Instead, Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown stole the football.

Aguilar’s pass lacked the required zip, and it sailed to Kitselman’s back shoulder instead of leading him. Brown jumped the route, pried the pigskin from the sky and won a 99-yard footrace to the opposite end zone. A would-be seven points for Tennessee became seven for Alabama.

And the Tide hooped and hollered on their way to the locker room, and their fans pumped their red and white pompoms, and Tennessee was toast.

“Love it,” DeBoer said in his radio interview on his way to the halftime locker room.

Keep beating rivals like this, wearing that black hoodie, and maybe these rabid fans in this football-crazed state will even learn to love him back.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.