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The pivotal matchup between the No. 7 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) and No. 11 ranked Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) is just moments away from its 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff time.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks and stories in college football, is expected to be public enemy number one in Knoxville this weekend as he looks to hand Tennessee its second loss of the year.
As Milroe and his teammates entered Neyland Stadium coming off the bus, they were met with a loud burst of reaction.
Milroe's turquoise suit is as bold as he is. It's the sort of suit you'd expect him to wear at the 2025 NFL Draft.
What is at stake for Jalen Milroe and co. in Alabama vs. Tennessee
Milroe is coming off one of his least impressive performances of the year in Alabama's 27-25 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks. He had 201 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He will need more than that to compete against an up-and-down, yet still very effective Tennessee offense.
The Volunteers are coming off a 23-17 win against the Florida Gators that saw an equally lackluster performance from quarterback Nick Iamaleava, with his 169 passing yards and one interception.
Unfortunately for Tennessee, they will be without their defensive leader in senior linebacker Keenan Pili, who leads the team with 29 total tackles on the season.
Both of these teams are looking to make a push for the 2024 College Football Playoff. The expanded 12-team format has allowed elite teams at the top of the standings to suffer a loss. But two losses would be hard to overcome.
If these two teams finish the year with similar portfolios, a head-to-head tiebreaker could seal the deal for head coaches Kalen DeBoer and Josh Heupel.
Tennessee will still have the opportunity to face No. 5 ranked Georgia, while Alabama still has to go up against No. 8 ranked LSU and No. 19 ranked Missouri. But this matchup is essential to get in the win column.
