Alabama heads up to Knoxville for a rivalry matchup against Tennessee on Saturday after suffering their first loss of the season last week to Georgia.

This game could be viewed as a defacto SEC championship elimination game as both teams come in with a loss in SEC play. Alabama is 5-1 overall (3-1 SEC), while Tennessee is 5-1 (2-1). This is also a huge game for each team's College Football Playoff aspirations as a second loss puts the loser of this game on the bubble.

This will be one of Alabama's toughest tests of the season, and here are three reasons why Alabama wins this weekend, as well as three reasons why they might not.

Why: Alabama's run game against Tennessee's run defense

For as good as Tennessee's defense is and as much talent as they have on that side of the ball, they are middle of the pack in run defense. Tennessee is allowing 132.5 rush yards per game this season, which ranks outside the top 50 nationally and is tenth in the SEC. Trae'shawn Brown has really emerged the last couple weeks for Alabama at running back with at least 60 yards in three of Alabama's last four games, and he ran for 90 yards on just nine carries last week against Georgia. EJ Crowell and Daniel Hill are both really strong options as well.

For as good as Tennessee can be on defense, Alabama could have some success on the ground. Two weeks ago, Auburn ran for 186 yards on Tennessee, which included over 100 yards from Byrum Brown, which could bode well for Keelon Russell using his legs.

Why Not: DeSean Bishop has a big day

Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) fights his way into the end zone for the game-sealing touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 10, 2026.

While Tennessee's passing numbers have caught people's eyes in past years, at the core of the Vols' offense is their run game. DeSean Bishop is one of the SEC's most underrated running backs and is key to Tennessee's attack. This season, he has 678 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 107 carries in six games. He was a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago and in last year's Third Saturday in October, Bishop rushed for 123 yards with two touchdowns.

With Alabama nose tackle Terrance Green being out, that significantly affects Alabama run defense. If Alabama loses this game, it could be because Bishop has a big day.

Why: Alabama takes advantage of Tennessee's quarterback situation

Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard (18) and Alabama linebacker Yhonzae Pierre (0) stop a run by South Carolina running back Matt Fuller (28) at Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

Tennessee's quarterback situation is arguably the Vols' biggest question-mark coming into the Third Saturday in October. It appears that George MacIntyre will get the start for the Vols, but whether it's been MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon under center, Tennessee has not gotten the production it has desired from the quarterback position.

The Vols are averaging less than 200 passing yards per game this season, and in their last three games, Tennessee quarterback have been sacked 14 times and have turned the ball over four times. While the sacks are obviously not all on the quarterbacks, this is a chance for Alabama's front-seven to have a big day and for the Alabama defense to come up with some big plays with sacks and takeaways.

Why Not: Xavier Gilliam wrecks havoc

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson (7) is sacked by Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam (2) during a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 10, 2026.

Another area where a potential Alabama injury matches up with a Tennessee strength is with Xavier Gilliam up the middle on the Vols defensive line and Alabama starting center Racin Delgatty being questionable. Gilliam is one of the premier defensive players in college football. This season, he has 22 tackles, 10 TFL, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. Gilliam is hard enough to deal with when full-strength up-front. That concern grows when you have a backup trying to block him.

Why: Kalen DeBoer's record in games after a loss

Kalen DeBoer typically has his teams ready to go after a loss. At Alabama, DeBoer is 6-1 coming off a loss with that lone loss coming with an offseason in between (lost to Michigan in Alabama's 2024 bowl game and then lost to Florida State in the 2025 season opener). Overall for his FBS coaching career, DeBoer is 12-3 in games following a loss and is 10-2 when the loss was not the final game of the previous season. Meaning DeBoer has only lost back-to-back games in a season twice as an FBS head coach.

Why Not: Neyland Stadium makes an impact

Alabama has had their trouble in Neyland Stadium in recent years. Alabama has dropped two-straight games in Neyland, 24-17 in 2024 and 52-49 in 2022 (which snapped Alabama's 15-game winning streak in the series). Neyland will be the toughest environment that Keelon Russell has played in so far in his young career, so it will be a tough test for him. Especially if Alabama is down to their second string center and with one of Russell's top-targets in Ryan Coleman-Williams out.

Not to mention that Alabama has committed a combined 32 penalties their last two games in Knoxville. Another interesting nugget is that no Alabama offensive player that will play in this game has ever actually gotten on the field in Neyland before (with Coleman-Williams being out), so it will be a lot of player's experiencing it for the first time.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: 3 reasons why Alabama will defeat Tennessee in Knoxville, 3 why not

Source: Yahoo Sports