Welcome to a new era of college football, where the Third Saturday in October will act as a de facto playoff game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium.

Both programs, which are ranked inside the top 15 at the same time for the 22nd time in the 107 match ups between the two teams, won't necessarily out of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff picture with a loss, but it would leave the losing team with a razor thin margin of error the rest of the way.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

Firs the No. 11 Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC), who escaped disaster one week ago against Florida, overcoming another stagnant offensive showing in the first half to take the lead in the fourth quarter and then hold off the Gators in overtime, 23-17.

It was the second-straight week that Tennessee was held scoreless in the first two quarters. The Vols couldn't overcome those woes at Arkansas the week before, resulting in their first loss of the season.

Tennessee's stellar defense and a heavy dose of running back Dylan Sampson are the two reasons the Vols enter their annual rivalry clash with Alabama with all of their goals still intact, but they desperately need improvement on offense to emerge from the weekend playoff aspirations.

The same goes for the Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1), who are finding out the hard way about a life after Nick Saban. In the span of two weeks, Alabama went from the best win in the country over Georgia to a historic defeat at Vanderbilt.

The response against South Carolina was less than inspiring. Alabama gave up a two-score lead, fought for its life to go back in front late and then needed an interception in the end zone to win.

Saturday could go either way. Tennessee is 2.5-point underdog on its home turf, but is more than capable of bolstering its resume with a win over the Crimson Tide.

Here is a closer look at the match up.

Who: No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1)

When: Saturday, Oct. 19 | 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Neyland Stadium | Knoxville

TV: ABC (Sean McDonough, play-by-play; Greg McElroy, analyst; Molly McGrath, reporter)

Series: 107th meeting (Alabama leads, 60-39-7)

Line: Alabama, -2.5

-- Tennessee and Alabama will meet for the 107th time on Saturday in a rivalry game that has been billed the "Third Saturday in October" since 1939. The Vols and Crimson Tide will meet at top 20 teams for the 22nd time.

-- Tennessee ended a 15-game losing skid to Alabama the last time the two teams played in Knoxville in 2022. A win for the Vols on Saturday would be the first time since 2004 and 2006 that they have won back-to-back games against the Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Keys to success: What Tennessee needs to do to beat Alabama

-- Tennessee currently ranks in the top 10 among FBS teams in several statistical categories. Through six games, the Vols are second in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 24.1% of their attempts and second in total defense, limiting teams to less than 250 yards of total offense per game.

-- Tennessee has produced 200 or more rushing yards in 26 games under Josh Heupel. It has proven to be a winning formula for the Vols, who are a commanding 24-2 in those games. Tennessee has accounted for 304 or more yards in three games this season.

TENNESSEE

Nico Iamaleava, QB

Stats: 94-of-143 passing, 1,219 YDs, 7 TD, 3 INT, 51.4 QBR

Dylan Sampson, RB

Stats: 118 CAR, 699 YDs, 15 TD, 5.9 AVG

James Pearce Jr., DL

Stats: 19 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF

Arion Carter, LB

Stats: 27 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Three numbers to know as Tennessee hosts Alabama

ALABAMA

Jalen Milroe, QB

Stats: 96-of-132 passing, 1,483 YDs, 12 TDs, 4 INT, 83.2 QBR

Ryan Williams, WR

Stats: 23 REC, 576 YDs, 6 TD, 25.0 AVG

Jihaad Campbell, LB

Stats: 51 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF

Keon Sabb, DB

Stats: 37 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 2 INT

TOTAL OFFENSE

Tennessee: 484.5 (yards per game)

Alabama: 442.3

RUSHING OFFENSE

Tennessee: 246.2

Alabama: 179.2

PASSING OFFENSE

Alabama: 263.2

Tennessee: 228.3

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: I simulated Tennessee vs. Alabama on College Football 25

TOTAL DEFENSE

Tennessee: 249.8 (yards allowed per game)

Alabama: 342.5

RUSHING DEFENSE

Tennessee: 79.7

Alabama: 129.2

PASSING DEFENSE

Tennessee: 170.2

Alabama: 213.3

Offensive woes: If there was ever time to correct the offense, this is it for Tennessee. After a historic start to the season offensively, the Vols have struggled on that side of the ball in their last three games. Part of those struggles have been the offensive, which has given redshirt freshman quarter Nico Iamaleava little time in the passing game. There was some evident improvement against Florida and few big passing plays late either missed by inches or were dropped. Tennessee will have to take advantage of those vs. Alabama.

On the brink of history: What success Tennessee's offense has had consistently this season has been on the shoulders of Dylan Sampson. The Vols' stellar running back pulled them out of trouble at Arkansas, though it ultimately wasn't enough. He did the same last week, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Sampson is second nationally in touchdowns with 15 and is three away from tying the program record set by Gene McEver with 18 in 1929.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Series Snapshot: Tennessee, Alabama and the Third Saturday in October

Toughest challenge awaits: Tennessee isn't in the position it is in without its defense. The Vols continue to be dominant and did more than enough to keep them in games the last two weeks. Their toughest challenge awaits, though. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milore has accounted for more than 1,800 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns. Ryan Williams has been on the receiving end of six of those scores and both present plenty of problems. Tennessee has allowed just three plays of 30 or more yards this season while Alabama's offense has totaled five of 32-plus yards.

New faces, same rivalry: Saturday will usher in a era of the Third Saturday in October. For the first time in 18 years, Nick Saban will not be roaming the visitors sideline at Neyland Stadium. His replacement, Kalen DeBoer, who led Washington the national title game a year ago, will instead lead Alabama into Knoxville, but both coaches have downplayed some of the newness of the 107-year-old series this week. Coaches aside, Tennessee-Alabama is still a big game, and there have been few bigger than this one with what's at stake for both teams.

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