KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recognizes the enormous opportunity awaiting his sixth-ranked Volunteers only too well.
The No. 6 Volunteers host No. 3 Alabama on Saturday, and it's the first time since 1989 that both have been unbeaten going into the Third Saturday of October rivalry game. Tennessee is trying to crack college football's elite for the first time since 2006, when the Vols last beat Alabama.Alabama has been a regular atop the Southeastern Conference — not to mention winning six national titles — since hiring Nick Saban as head coach.
Tennessee fans painted Neyland Stadium an orange-and-white checkerboard pattern for a win over Florida. That's what Alabama safety Jordan Battle is expecting, though all orange seems to be the color of choice fora game so big Tennessee has set up an outdoor watch party area for the sold-out game. “He's always a threat to run it too, which makes it more difficult, and they've got really good skill guys,” Saban said of Hooker. “And their entire offensive team is very efficient in how they operate and how they execute.”Tide linebacker Henry To’oTo’o is playing in this game for the fourth time and second since transferring from the Vols where he was a two-year starter. To'oTo'o had three tackles in two games against Alabama.
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