"Heartbreaking loss for our team. We thought we had done what it takes to win the game, and we played 3½ quarters of pretty good football," Alabama coach Mike Shula said.
In addition to his 18-yard field goal, Christensen also had a 24-yarder earlier.
"That team was not better than us. No form or fashion, no way possible," Alabama defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. "If they were better than us and we had lost by 30, it still would have hurt but not so bad."
Wilhoit had field goals of 27 and 47 for the Vols.
Wilson was 13-of-29 for 158 yards, and the Tide was held to 53 yards rushing.
Tim Castille's TD was the first touchdown scored in the series since the second half of the game in 2004, which Tennessee won 17-13 in Knoxville. Castille, Simeon's brother, scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter of that game, the Tide's previous TD against the Vols.