Third Saturday in October -- remember it?
Alabama and Tennessee haven't gathered on that traditional spot much lately. Perhaps it's fitting they'll reunite in that familiar place on the rare occasion both programs are trending upward.
Yes, the Vols' loss at Texas A&M kept this from being the first showdown with the both in the top-10 since 1999. It'll still have been 11 years since the two were even ranked at the same time.
And since Tennessee hasn't smoked a victory cigar since the Mike Shula era in 2006, this rivalry has needed juice.
The Vols haven't had this much positivity entering an Alabama game in years.