The teams ended a wild first half with two scores in the final 12 seconds, set up by a pair of defensive blunders.

First, Hall caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to cap a 16-play drive that consumed more than seven minutes, a play after a pass interference call set up first down.

Tennessee took over at its own 45 with 9 seconds showing. A completion to Chris Brown and a late hit penalty set up Daniel Lincoln’s 45-yard field goal on the last play to cut Alabama’s lead to 24-17.

This wasn’t the first time Saban has started a big game with the onside kick.

“We played Auburn at LSU once and I started the game out that way and the same thing happened,” said Saban, a former LSU coach. “I think it was a tremendous momentum-getter for us.”

Ainge and the Vols answered with two consecutive touchdowns for their only lead, capped by Luke Stocker’s 3-yard catch on the first play of the second quarter.

The Wilson-to-Hall connection burned Tennessee again. Wilson found his top receiver for a 16-yard score on third-and-goal, Hall’s eighth catch.

“The defense takes this loss on our shoulders,” Vols linebacker Jerod Mayo said.

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Ainge said the offense wasn’t so hot in the second half either.

“It was one little stupid thing after another in the second half that kept us from completing drives,” he said.

Alabama announced the suspensions for Caldwell, Davis and Coffee and two reserve defensive backs before the game for violating school policy on receiving textbooks.

“I wasn’t informed about this until (Friday) night,” Saban said. “Obviously some players did not use good judgment in what they did. I don’t know all the circumstances around it.”

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