Vols eyeing rebound vs. Wildcats
Kentucky (1-2, 1-2 SEC) at No. 18 Tennessee (2-1, 2-1)
Noon Saturday, SEC Network Tennessee returns home to Neyland Stadium looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season against rival Kentucky. The Volunteers managed a season-low in rushing yards (minus-1) last week against Georgia and now must face a Wildcats defense that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. Kentucky’s Terry Wilson, the SEC’s top rushing quarterback with 221 yards, faces Tennessee linebacker Deandre Johnson, the SEC’s sack leader (3.5).
Louisville (1-3, 0-3 ACC) at No. 4 Notre Dame (3-0, 2-0)
2:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC
Notre Dame is looking to extend its 21-game home win streak when the Fighting Irish host Louisville this weekend. The last loss at home came against then-No. 15 Georgia on Sept. 9, 2017. The Cardinals are looking to avoid their first four-game losing streak since the 2018 season. Louisville running back Javian Hawkins leads the ACC in rushing (468 yards).
UCF (2-1, 1-1 AAC) at Memphis (1-1, 0-1)
3:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC
These two programs have combined to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Six Access Bowl during each of the last three seasons (UCF 2017-18, Memphis 2019). UCF has won 13 straight in this series, including a pair of shootouts in the 2017 and 2018 American Athletic Conference Championship games. The average score of the last three meetings was 49-42.
No. 5 UNC (3-0, 3-0 ACC) at Florida State (1-3, 0-3)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC
North Carolina is looking to start a season 4-0 for the first time since 1997, which is also the last time the Tar Heels found themselves ranked in the top 5 in the AP poll. Mack Brown’s team leads the ACC in total offense (506 yards per game) thanks, in part, to running back Michael Carter, who’s averaging 10.3 yards per carry this season. Florida State hasn’t beaten a top 5 team since 2014.
No. 3 Georgia (3-0, 3-0 SEC) at No. 2 Alabama (3-0, 3-0)
8 p.m. Saturday, CBS
This game is could be a preview of the SEC Championship Game as Georgia looks to snap a five-game losing streak against Alabama. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart is also looking to become the first former Nick Saban assistant to beat his ex-boss (0-21). Georgia features the top defense in the SEC, leading the league in rushing, passing, scoring and total defense. Alabama, meanwhile, is coming off a game in which it allowed 647 yards in a win over Ole Miss. Saban is expected to coach remotely all week and miss the game after testing positive for COVID-19.