Tennessee has positioned itself well as it moves deeper into the month of November.

Another come-from-behind act against Kentucky a week ago kept the Vols' SEC and College Football Playoff aspirations in front of them with a few more resume-bolstering games remaining.

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Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC), which debuted at No. 7 in the initial playoff rankings earlier this week, hosts Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5) in the last of a four-game homestand at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, one week before going to No. 3 Georgia in a game that could go a long way in deciding a spot in the SEC Championship Game and potentially a playoff berth.

All of that could be off the table, though if the Vols get caught overlooking the Bulldogs, who have yet to win a league game despite playing Georgia and Texas relatively close.

For Tennessee, it would be an opportune time to get its offense together for a four quarters. The Vols have combined for 7 points in the first half of each of its last four games before coming back and winning the last three.

Those struggles cost them in their only loss at Arkansas in October, but were enough to beat Florida, Alabama and Kentucky during the three-game win streak.

Tennessee's defense has carried it this far and shows no signs of slowing down. Having a complete offense to compliment that side of the ball would solidify the Vols' standing in the playoff picture in the last month of the regular season.

Here is everything you need to know about Tennessee's primetime bout with Mississippi State on Saturday.

Who: Mississippi State (2-7 0-5 SEC) at No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1)

When: Saturday, Nov. 9 | 7 p.m. ET

Where: Neyland Stadium | Knoxville

TV: ESPN (Dave Pasch, play-by-play; Dusty Dvoracek, analyst; Taylor McGregor, reporter)

Series: 47th all-time meeting (Tennessee leads, 29-16-1)

Line: Tennessee, -23.5

-- Tennessee has come from behind in the second half each of its last three wins. The Vols were down 10-7 at halftime in their latest outing against Kentucky last week before scoring three touchdowns down the stretch to win 28-18. It marked the 9th-straight game that the defense has held an opponent under 20 points.

-- Tennessee is looking to continue its dominance on its home turf this season. The Vols are unbeaten at Neyland Stadium in 2024 and are 23-4 overall since Josh Heupel took over the program in 2021. A win on Saturday would be the second time in three years that Tennessee has finished with an unblemished record vs. SEC teams at home.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Numbers to know as Tennessee hosts Mississippi State

-- Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is coming off of his best passing performance as the Vols' starter. He finished with career highs in both pass completions (28) and pass attempts (38) for nearly 300 yards and one touchdown. Iamaleava has completed 61.7% of his passes in the last three games.

-- Tennessee has utilized its tight ends under Heupel, but the Vols are seemingly getting the most out of the position this season. Tight ends have caught at least one touchdown pass in eight games with Miles Kitselman accounting for three, including a third quarter score that put the Vols up two touchdowns against Kentucky. He finished with a career-high six catches for 97 yards.

TENNESSEE

Nico Iamaleava, QB

Stats: 136-of-208 passing, 1,705 YDs, 9 TD, 4 INT, 62.7 QBR

Dylan Sampson, RB

Stats: 171 CAR, 980 YDs, 19 TD, 5.7 AVG

Miles Kitselman, TE

Stats: 12 REC, 175 YDs, 3 TD, 14.6 AVG

James Pearce Jr., DL

Stats: 23 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 FF

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

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Michael Van Buren Jr., QB

Stats: 97-of-170 passing, 1,323 YDs, 9 TD, 4 INT, 73.7 QBR

Davon Booth, RB

Stats: 104 CAR, 472 YDs, 3 TD, 4.5 AVG

Kevin Coleman Jr., WR

Stats: 57 REC, 688 YDs, 5 TD, 12.1 AVG

Branden Jennings, LB

Stats: 41 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks,

TOTAL OFFENSE

Tennessee: 474.0 (yards per game)

Mississippi State: 398.6

RUSHING OFFENSE

Tennessee: 234.5

Mississippi State: 143.3

PASSING OFFENSE

Tennessee: 239.5

Mississippi State: 255.2

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Everything Josh Heupel said on SEC Coaches Teleconference

TOTAL DEFENSE

Tennessee: 271.3 (yards allowed per game)

Mississippi State: 461.8

RUSHING DEFENSE

Tennessee: 89.8

Mississippi State: 211.7

PASSING DEFENSE

Tennessee: 181.5

Mississippi State: 250.1

With one record broken, Sampson nearing even more: Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson moved to the top of the program record books with his fourth quarter touchdown against Kentucky last week. He now hold the single-season rushing touchdown with 19, jumping previous record-holder Gene McEver, who rushed for 18 in 1929. But there are more records that Sampson could potentially tie or break with at least five games left. He is currently tied with Josh Dobbs for third place in career touchdowns with 32. McEver holds that record with 37.

A chance to move up in playoff rankings: Tennessee debuted at No. 7 in the initial College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday. The Vols' loss at Arkansas last month remains their lone blemish, but after three-straight wins and No. 3 Georgia and fringe-top 25 Vanderbilt still left on the schedule, Tennessee has an opportunity to move up the rankings and give itself better placement in the bracket. As of now, the Vols would host No. 8 Indiana at Neyland Stadium in the first round with a quarterfinal clash with No. 1 Oregon for the winner.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Series Snapshot: Tennessee vs. Mississippi State

Offense running out of time in quest for improvement: Tennessee's offense has been good enough to win during its three-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 68-28 in the second half. The Vols' top 5 defense has helped, of course. What Tennessee is trying to do this week is shake off slow starts. Coaches and players insist they're close, but with four games left in the regular season and a spot in the SEC title game and playoff at stake, it would benefit the Vols to show those improvements sooner rather than later.

Heupel, Lebby reunite on Saturday: Tennessee and Mississippi State share a coaching connection. The Bulldogs' first-year head coach Jeff Lebby was a student assistant on Bob Stoops' Oklahoma staff when Josh Heupel was a graduate assistant and late quarterbacks coach. Heuple later hired Lebby as his offensive coordinator at Central Florida. Now, the two face off as head coaches with similar offenses that will square off.

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