MAJOR SEC SHOWDOWN

Nick Saban's potential absence is a big variable in Saturday's top-five clash between Alabama and Georgia

No. 3 Georgia at No. 2 Alabama: It's the only matchup of Top 25 teams and was supposed to be the second straight game Alabama coach Nick Saban faced off against a former assistant, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart. Steve Sarkisian will be in charge of the Tide unless Saban has three subsequent negative tests after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide have won five straight against Georgia and will be meeting the Bulldogs in the regular season for the first time since 2015. Georgia presents a much bigger physical challenge than the Tide faced last week. The Bulldogs' run defense is best in the nation. Opponents are averaging 1.49 yards per carry and have scored no rushing touchdowns. The Bulldogs, however, haven't seen a running back like Najee Harris, who went for a career-high

206 yards and five touchdowns against Ole Miss.

The last two Georgia-Alabama games were classics.

In 2018, Jalen Hurts took over for an injured Tua Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter and led the Tide to a 35-28 win in the SEC championship game in Atlanta. Eleven months earlier on the same field, Tagovailoa had replaced an ineffective Hurts and brought back the Tide from a 13-0 deficit to beat the Bulldogs 26-23 in overtime in the national championship game.

Heisman watch

Ian Book became Notre Dame's first quarterback to pile up 2,500 yards passing, 500 yards rushing and 30 touchdown passes in a season, and he's been steady through three games against overmatched competition. The third-year starter's status as a second-tier Heisman candidate could change quickly if the Irish keep winning and he has a big outing against Clemson on Nov. 7.

Under the radar

Kentucky at No. 18 Tennessee: The border rivals are meeting for the 116th time, and Kentucky will be going for its first win in Knoxville since 1984.