Does anyone remember when Alabama-Birmingham football was the phoenix of college sports? Shut down in 2014 amid budget woes and fan uproar, only to rise again in 2017 thanks to a community push and some savvy fundraising. Fast-forward to 2025, and they’re still grinding in the American Athletic Conference, but facing SEC giants like Tennessee means big paydays—and bigger beatdowns as well.  UAB pocketed a cool $1.2 million for this trip to Neyland Stadium on September 20, but left with a 56-24 loss that felt like déjà vu for a program that’s seen its share of rebuilds. Tennessee, meanwhile, improved to 3-1, escaping the Georgia blues and padding its resume ahead of tough SEC tests. While history lessons are fine for the classroom, let’s get to the gridiron action, where the Vols feasted early and often.

Tennessee received the opening kickoff and wasted no time, marching for a touchdown that culminated in a 19-yard pass from Joey Aguilar to Chris Brazzell II, followed by Max Gilbert's PAT for a 7-0 lead. UAB’s response? A punt after a sputtering drive of two yards.  The Vols’ second possession ended with another score—a 39-yard Aguilar touchdown strike to Mike Matthews—pushing the tally to 14-0. UAB's response? Another punt after a 20-yard drive. In accord with recent performances, Tennessee kept the pedal down: touchdown, touchdown, and more touchdowns. The third TD came on a 3-yard run by local phenom DeSean Bishop, setting up a PAT by Gilbert that extended the lead to 21-0 late in the first quarter.  That’s when things got bizarre—UAB safety Sirad Bryant, apparently frustrated, stomped on Gilbert’s right foot immediately after the successful extra point, drawing flags from at least three officials and predictably sparking chaos. Bryant initially bumped Vols holder Jackson Ross before delivering the cleat stomp, which had Gilbert bending in pain and Ross chasing after the perpetrator in rage. Officials hit Bryant with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and post-game, Bryant apologized on Instagram, calling it “inexcusable" and saying he wasn't that kind of person and that he takes "full accountability," whatever that means. UAB coach Trent Dilfer promised discipline, saying he’d seen the video and wasn’t happy, emphasizing it had no place in the game. That's an understatement.

By halftime, it was 42-7, with UAB’s lone first-half points coming on a 30-yard reception by Brandon Hawkins Jr. from QB Jalen Kitna. The Blazers showed some fight in the second half, adding a 61-yard bomb from Kitna to Kaleb Brown and a late rushing TD by Isaiah Jacobs, but Tennessee’s ground game (235 yards, 4 TDs) and defense (forcing turnovers, including a strip by Boo Carter) sealed the deal at 56-24.  That strip set up a highlight for Vols DB Kaleb Beasley, who scooped the loose ball and rumbled 23 yards for his first college touchdown—along the Blazer sideline and in front of his old high school coach, Trent Dilfer. 

Post-game, Beasley hit the media room (along with Peyton Lewis and Jalen McMurray), calling the score “surreal” and a “blessing,” while tipping his hat to Dilfer: “I saw Coach Dilfer before and after the game—we caught up a bit. It’s a blessing to have played under him; I learned a lot.” It was a full-circle moment in a rout, especially since Beasley starred at Lipscomb Academy during back-to-back state title runs under Dilfer. Speaking of bizarre, the stomping wasn’t the only oddity from the UAB side. Head coach Trent Dilfer was spotted fiddling with his phone before and during the game, evidently snapping photos or videos of Neyland’s atmosphere. Turns out, he was FaceTiming or sharing the scene with his daughter (who’s about to give birth) and his grandson—a sweet family moment, but during live action in a blowout loss? That’s the kind of “weird” that had fans and media buzzing, part endearing grandpa vibe and part head-scratching distraction when your squad’s getting hammered. In any event, Tennessee’s stars shone bright: Aguilar passed for 218 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT, looking sharp again on his sideline throws. The receiving corps dazzled with Brazzell II and Matthews combining for big plays. On the ground, the Vols averaged over 5 yards per carry. Defensively, they pressured Kitna (who still threw for 364 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort) into inefficiency in the run game, holding UAB to just 30 rushing yards.

UAB’s Kitna, a transfer with pedigree, showed flashes of why he’s their QB1, especially in the second half, but the Blazers couldn’t sustain meaningful drives against Tennessee’s front when it mattered. If they shake off this SEC thrashing—and the weirdness—they might make noise in conference play, but Dilfer’s rebuild still looks like it’s got miles to go. Next up for Tennessee: a road trip to Mississippi State next Saturday. Notably, Coach Josh Heupel notched his 40th win here, but the real measuring stick comes in the upcoming SEC battles. For UAB, there's a bye week to lick wounds before AAC play begins for them, hosting Army on October 4.

TOM’S TAKEAWAYS

•  UAB’s extracurricular antics—from Bryant’s stomp to Dilfer’s phone—stole the spotlight for all the wrong (and weird) reasons. Props for family vibes on the phone, but maybe save the selfies for the end of the game? •  Tennessee won the turnover battle despite one giveaway, but UAB’s discipline slip (that foot stomp) could’ve cost them more if the score wasn’t already lopsided.

•  No major injuries were reported for the Vols—knock on wood as the schedule toughens. Gilbert even walked it off and continued kicking after the stomp, thankfully.

•  Aguilar’s poise keeps improving; his California roots must love that Knoxville sunshine. 

• Kitna’s arm talent is real—364 yards passing against an SEC defense is commendable. If Dilfer can channel that effort without the distractions, UAB might surprise folks.

•  Speaking of distractions, rumor has it Dilfer does the phone thing “every game.” In a win, it’s quirky; in a rout, it’s meme fodder. Either way, it humanizes the guy amid his “Dilfsaster” tenure critiques. And Bryant’s stomp? Straight-up bizarre and bush-league—expect internal fallout there.

•  UAB’s Kitna channels NFL DNA—his dad Jon slung passes for 15 years, crossing paths with Dilfer on fields and at faith conferences. Now Jon's son is bombing throws under his pop’s old league acquaintance, though the Vols’ D, as expected, had the last word.

•  Tennessee’s non-conference slate so far this year? A revival tour! Both ETSU (shuttered 2003, reborn 2015) and UAB (axed 2014, back in 2017) rose from the ashes just to get torched by the Vols. Talk about irony—payday games funding programs that once flatlined.