Takeaways from Tennessee's commanding victory over Alabama

Tennessee earned a dominant win over Alabama, and a Sports Illustrated review of the game sets out what the result revealed about the Volunteers. A one-sided victory in this rivalry is never a small occasion, and the takeaways focus on what Tennessee showed in putting together such a commanding performance against the Crimson Tide.

Games against Alabama have long served as a measuring stick for Tennessee, so winning in dominant fashion suggests more than a single good afternoon. It points to a team that was able to control the matchup and impose itself rather than simply survive a close finish.

For the Volunteers, the value of the win extends past the standings. A result of this nature against a traditional rival can build confidence for the stretch of the season that follows and gives Tennessee a clear reference point for what it is capable of when it plays at its best.