The Volunteers can assume a place among the sport’s elite teams when Alabama comes to Knoxville on Saturday for a pivotal showdown and, for UT, a chance to shake up the hierarchy in the Southeastern Conference. Two weeks ago the Vols hosted ESPN’s “College GameDay” then swamped the Florida Gators. On Saturday, they traveled to Louisiana State and caged the Tigers. Josh Heupel’s team is 5-0 with an average margin of victory of nearly 30 points per game.
The third October of the month traditionally has been Bama-Tennessee week, and for the last 15 years — ever since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa — it’s been all Crimson Tide.