No. 7 Alabama visits No. 11 Tennessee with both trying to avoid a second loss

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) waits for an interview with ESPN following a close win over South Carolina in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

The College Football Playoff future for both programs is on the line Saturday with Alabama and Tennessee each having a loss already this season.

Alabama lost its last game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville in 2022. A win raises the stakes for Alabama’s home games with Missouri and Auburn as well as trips to LSU and Oklahoma.

Tennessee dropped in the Top 25 rankings after an overtime win over Florida and has an open date looming. The Vols still have home games with Kentucky and Mississippi State before traveling to Georgia with the SEC meat grinder creating must-see games as teams jockey for position in the first 12-team playoff bracket.

Key matchup

Vols QB Nico Iamaleava was sacked three times by Florida with Tennessee tackles Lance Heard and John Campbell Jr., struggling to protect in consecutive games. They also were flagged for a couple holding penalties. Alabama had four sacks in a win against South Carolina. Protecting Iamaleava is a priority for Tennessee as the Vols try to get the offense humming like it did earlier this season.

Players to watch

Alabama: QB Jalen Milroe has been intercepted three times in the past two games after emerging from the Georgia win widely regarded as the Heisman Trophy front-runner. Vandy contained him in the run, and Alabama struggled against South Carolina’s pass rush. But when he’s clicking both running and passing, Milroe is one of college football’s most dangerous quarterbacks.

Tennessee: When the Vols’ offense functions at a high level, RB Dylan Sampson is picking up tough yards between the tackles. Since last year’s Citrus Bowl win over Iowa, Sampson has rushed for over 100 yards in six of his seven games. He already has 15 rushing TDs this season, the most by an SEC player through the first six games of a season since 1992.

Facts & figures

The game has been called the Third Saturday in October since 1939 in a rivalry where this will be just the 22nd game with both teams ranked in the top 20. … Tennessee is looking for back-to-back home wins over Alabama since 2006. … This will be Tennessee’s first game without its top defensive player. LB Keenan Pili tore an ACL last week. … In each of its last two games, Tennessee trailed 3-0 at halftime. … Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is 13-2 across 15 career matchups with teams ranked in the AP Top 25. … Alabama WR Ryan Williams has just seven catches for 114 yards the past two games despite being targeted 13 times by Milroe. … Tennessee’s defense is ranked in the top 10 in 12 major categories nationally.

Kickoff of No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) at No. 8 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1), is Saturday at 2:30PM CDT on ABC 32.

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