As far as Alabama-Tennessee games go, this one’s a real brain teaser.

Two weeks ago, these two entered games as top-5 teams and multi-touchdown favorites only to lose. Neither looked particularly good a week later when they nearly blew home games as double-digit favorites.

So somebody’s going to break the cycle … and their rivals’ playoff path as they resume this old-school rivalry with huge modern-day implications.

Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) opened as a 2-point favorite in point spread that’s grown to three as the week progressed. That’s notable since Tennessee is the home team that took down the Crimson Tide the last time they met in Neyland Stadium.

It’s a meeting of a struggling Vol offense and a stumbling Tide defense.

And a solid Tide offense and a strong Vol defense.

So who blinks?

Best case scenario for Alabama: Strike fast, slow down

The evolution of college football is occurring right before our eyes. The days of 16-18 possession games are gone. Alabama had the ball 10 times in each of its last two games. Vanderbilt beat Alabama two weeks ago with just nine possessions.

That means every touch is critical. Alabama gave away two possessions in Nashville and lost by five. Last week, it took four from South Carolina and won by two after beating Georgia by seven after grabbing four takeaways.

We say all that to say this: A few plays here and there could make the difference in a game like this. Alabama was gashed by the big play in Neyland Stadium two years ago but returned the favor last October in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide is fifth nationally with seven plays of 50-plus yards. Tennessee’s defense hasn’t allowed a single one in six games this season, so something has to give. South Carolina brought a smart plan to limit Ryan Williams to his lowest output of the season (four catches, 32 yards and his first touchdown-free game of the season).

With the Vol offense struggling, popping a few big plays over the top will pressure the home team.

Speaking of that Tennessee offense, it’s not like that group isn’t capable. They’ve shown they have the capability for fireworks and Alabama’s been susceptible to breakdowns the last few weeks.

The key here is to slow momentum before it builds. This is a Tennessee offense that likes to ramp up the speed after a successful first-down play, rolling the snowball downhill fast. Florida, however, impacted that pace a week ago in a game Tennessee won in overtime but started painfully slow. The Vols averaged just 2.7 yards on 13 first-down running plays and just 6.3 yards a passing attempt.

That helped keep Tennessee from scoring until late in the third quarter of a game that ended 23-17 in overtime. The Vols had the ball 13 times in regulation, scoring just three of those possessions while going 3-and-out five times.

Worse case for Alabama: A dirty white uniform

Alabama had a world of trouble slowing South Carolina’s star pass rusher Kyle Kennard last week. He finished with two sacks plus the pressure that forced Jalen Milroe into an intentional grounding for a safety. He was a problem.

James Pearce Jr. could be even more of one. The star Vol defensive lineman recorded a sack/fumble last year against Milroe deep in Alabama territory. After Tennessee scooped the fumble, the guests kicked a field goal to take a 13-0 lead. Those are the nightmare scenarios that got Alabama at Vanderbilt and nearly did the same last week against South Carolina.

If Milroe leaves Neyland Stadium with that white road uniform all stained up, Alabama’s in trouble. The Vols will be without linebacker Keenan Pili, the play caller of the defense who is out for the season after an injury last week. That’s a huge loss for Tennessee but there’s plenty of firepower remaining on a defense that ranks fourth nationally in points allowed (10.7) and second in yards allowed (249.8).

The Vols also haven’t faced an offense with as much big-play potential as Alabama. The Tide also haven’t seen a defense as solid top-to-bottom coming off one of its most inconsistent performances of the season against the Gamecocks.

Prediction: Tennessee 21, Alabama 20

This one is as much of a coin toss as it comes but Tennessee’s at home, so the Vols get the edge in a rock fight.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

Dylan Sampson enters Saturday’s game against Alabama just two touchdowns short of matching Tennessee’s single-season program record. The junior running back so far has 15 rushing touchdowns in just six games. 

Gene McEver holds the all-time program record with 18 rushing touchdowns in 1929, while Reggie Cobb holds the modern record with 17 scored in 1987.

McEver also holds Tennessee’s all-time career rushing touchdown record with 37 between 1928 and 1931. James Stewart holds the modern record 35 from 1991 to 1994.

“He’s always had great vision, great pace,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Saturday night, after Sampson ran 27 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns. “Obviously he’s got good long speed, but he’s really good between the tackles.” 

No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

The single-season records could be tied or broken Saturday against Alabama, with Sampson already having scored two or more rushing touchdowns in five of Tennessee’s six games this season.

He had three in the season-opening win over Chattanooga on August 31, two more a week later in the 51-10 win over NC State in Charlotte and a season-high four against Kent State, all in the first half, on September 21.

Sampson had three rushing touchdowns Saturday in Tennessee’s 23-17 win overtime win over Florida, two at Arkansas two weeks ago and one at Oklahoma.

He’s now up to 29 total touchdowns — 28 rushing, one receiving — in just 28 career games at Tennessee. Games with multiple touchdowns has been the norm, with Sampson scoring his 29 touchdowns in just 15 of his 28 games with the Vols. 

Dylan Sampson within reach of multiple Tennessee single-season rushing records

Single-season touchdowns is far from the only record Sampson could end up breaking. 

Travis Stephens holds the single-season rushing yards record with 1,464. Sampson, sitting on 699 yards through six games, is on pace for 1,398 yards during the regular season.

Sampson is on pace for 236 carries. Travis Stephens holds that record, too, with 291 in 2001. 

Sampson has also rushed for 100 yards or more in five of the first six games this season. Jay Graham holds the record with 11 100-yard games in 1995. 

Graham also holds the record for yards per game, averaging 130.7 in 11 games in 1995. Sampson is averaging 116.5 yards per game so far. 

Sampson is also averaging 5.92 yards per carry, with 699 yards on 118 attempts. The program record for yards per rush (minimum 200 carries) is 5.91, set by Chuck Webb in 1989 when he ran for 1,236 yards on 209 attempts.

Sampson is up to 1,700 career rush yards at Tennessee on 282 attempts, averaging 6.0 yards per rush.

“I think his growth, continuing to grow in the understanding of what we’re doing,” Heupel said. “But physical strength, just his development in the middle of the football field, those runs between the tackles, just continues to make a bunch of plays for us.  

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is proposing an increase to the Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation budget project because of unforeseen soil and utility conditions discovered during construction.

The UT System Board of Trustees will vote on a proposed increase of $9.3 million to accommodate for new developments regarding utilities at the Tennessee baseball facility. The Vols won the program’s first national in 2024 under coach Tony Vitello.

Key items identified include a utility review, an abandoned electrical duct bank and a required shoring wall, according to the agenda for the Fall Board of Trustees Meeting. The agenda for Oct. 24 and 25 also said the “as-built” files for the stadium were incomplete.

If approved, the proposal would increase the stadium renovation budget to $105.1 million to account for actual costs and construction documents. The increase would come from gifts to UT, which wouldn’t affect the Tennessee State School Bond Authority bonds UT is already using.

The UT System Board of Trustees approved the project’s budget of $95.8 million in 2023.

Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovation proposed budget increasing due to utility issues

The construction team working at Lindsey Nelson Stadium encountered issues with utilities surrounding the stadium, which led to a delay in the timeline for the project. UT plans to have the project completed prior to the 2026 season, UT announced in August. It had hoped to complete the renovations prior to the 2025 season.

Many utilities had to be relocated, which required processes including local review and approval before starting other aspects of the renovations. Notably, the utility work affected the placement of foundations and steel for new suites and a club level along the third-base line.

The suite and club level are on target to be added before the 2026 season as UT will continue work on the ballpark during the 2025 season.

UT will continue work on the home-plate entrance and plaza area, as well as the third-base line restrooms and concession stands during the 2025 season. Upgrades such as a new sound system, player entry, merchandise shops and a kitchen also are on the plans. A fully completed mezzanine level, an MVP room expansion, renovated home-plate concessions areas and elevators round out the list of projects slated for the third phase.

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Pat Head Summitt Street will remain closed to vehicles during the 2025 season.

What construction will be complete before Tennessee baseball’s 2025 season?

Many updates and additions will be completed before the 2025 season, Vitello’s eighth at Tennessee.

Tennessee plans to install four-top tables along the right-field line, a permanent net system and a right-field student section. It is aiming to add a bar area on the left-field line, new chairback seats under an added mezzanine level as well as restrooms and concession stands along the first-base line.

UT is renovating restrooms and upgrading seating behind home plate.

What is the budget for Lindsey Nelson Stadium renovations?

The initial estimate when UT began construction on Lindsey Nelson Stadium approached $100 million.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved a renovation budget of $95.8 million in June 2023. That marked a significant increase from $56.8 million, which was reflected in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s proposed budget for 2022-23 fiscal year.

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The funding will come from a combination of major donor gifts, ticket sales, seat donations, suite sales and the My All Campaign. The funding has nearly $7.994 million earmarked for naming rights to Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @specialk2real.

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Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.