In past seasons, losing a second game on the third Saturday in October would leave a team’s playoffs hope in major jeopardy.
But with the current campaign being the first for a 12-team playoff, a second loss this soon is no longer a killer. That’s good news for No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee when they battle on Saturday at Knoxville, Tenn.
The Southeastern Conference showdown still is vitally important as the winner maintains the chance of landing one of the four first-round byes.
Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) also is trying to turn around a series in which it has dropped 16 of the past 17 meetings. The win was two years ago (52-49) when the Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1) last visited town.
“Another huge contest here for us,” Volunteers coach Josh Heupel said Monday. “Rivalry game and college football as good as it gets here with these two teams playing. So looking forward to seeing our fans out on Saturday and needing a great week of practice preparation for a really good football team that we’re playing.”
The contest marks Alabama’s first game against Tennessee since 2006 without Nick Saban as coach.
“This rivalry has been around a long time before Nick Saban was a part of it or I was a part of it,” said Heupel, coaching against the Crimson Tide for the fourth time. “The magnitude of this rivalry is the historical nature and what it’s meant inside of this league a lot.”
First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has been hearing about the importance of this game for months.
“I’ve been told it’s a big deal, and I know it’s a big deal. You see it from afar,” DeBoer said Monday. “As a coach, they’re all big and you take one at a time. But certainly understand the significance of the rivalry. Guys are going to be very motivated to go out and do their best and prepare well and be great on Saturday.”
The Crimson Tide haven’t displayed their best side lately. Two weeks ago, they were ranked No. 1 when they sustained a 40-35 road loss against lowly Vanderbilt. Last week, only a failed two-point conversion prevented visiting South Carolina from pushing the game into overtime as Alabama escaped 27-25.
Star quarterback Jalen Milroe has been a season-long standout for the Crimson Tide while accounting for 23 touchdowns (12 passing, 11 rushing). Milroe has averaged 41.4 yards on his 12 passing scores and has completed 72.4 percent of his passes.
However, Milroe threw two interceptions against South Carolina. DeBoer said he discussed the mistakes with Milroe, who has thrown four picks on the season.
“We just keep stacking these moments on top of these moments,” DeBoer said. “He’ll remember anything that happened this game. He’s gonna remember what happened to him four weeks ago, and that’s what I love about him.”
Freshman wideout Ryan Williams has been part of many of the big plays with a 25.0-yard average. Seven of his 23 catches have gone for 43 or more yards.
Tennessee, though, has been stout defensively. The Volunteers rank second nationally in total defense (249.8 yards per game) and fourth in scoring defense (10.7).
But the unit sustained a big blow in last Saturday’s 23-17 overtime victory over Florida when linebacker Keenan Pili (knee) was lost for the season.
Star running back Dylan Sampson has stood out by rushing for 699 yards and 15 touchdowns, the latter ranking second nationally behind Boise State star Ashton Jeanty. In fact, the TD count is already fourth best in Vols’ history. Gene McEver holds the single-season record of 18 in 1929.
Sampson rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns against the Gators. It was his fifth 100-yard outing of the season.
