ESPN's Booger McFarland blames Josh Heupel for Joey Aguilar's pick-six at Alabama

Tennessee football was a yard away from touchdown in the final seconds before halftime.

Instead, Alabama took a 99-yard pick-six the other way for a massive swing as Zabien Brown intercepted Joey Aguilar's pass intended for tight end Miles Kitselman.

"I blame Josh Heupel for this," ESPN commentator Booger McFarland said while breaking down the play at halftime. "You got to know in that situation, you want to get points. You have to tell you quarterback if he is not wide open throw it in the stands so we can quick a field goal."

The play resulted in a 14-point swing and put No. 11 Tennessee behind 23-7 at halftime at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Tennessee had no timeouts and nine seconds left when it lined up at the Alabama 1-yard line. UT went with a jumbo package with Kitselman and defensive lineman Carson Gentle in the backfield. Gentle went in motion to the right.

Aguilar threw right to Kitselman, where Brown cut in front of the pass to pick it off.

"As a defender, I know with no timeouts left and you want to put points on the board, you have to pass the football," McFarland said. "I know we are throwing the football. I don't care what formation you come out in."

Brown kept his eyes on Aguilar the whole play and intercepted the pass then raced 99 yards for the game-changing score.

"To me, that was telegraphed," McFarland said.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: ESPN analyst blames Josh Heupel for Joey Aguilar pick-six at Alabama