UT Vols: 5 things to know for Auburn game

Part-time rivalry

Auburn and Tennessee will play for the first time since 2013 when the teams meet on Saturday in Auburn, Alabama. (TV: SEC Network, noon ET).

It will be their first meeting at Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2008.

The teams played every season from 1956 until 1991 when league expansion and rotating schedules reduced the rivalry to part-time status. During that stretch, the teams played on the last Saturday in September every year except 1968.

The two teams dominated the conference in the 1980s. In six of the eight seasons from 1983-90, either Auburn (1983, '87, '88, '89) or Tennessee (1985, '89, '90) won an SEC championship.

Auburn has won six in a row in the series. The winning streak stretches back to 2003.

Coaching connections about schools

The connections between the two coaching staffs revolve around the respective schools and playing careers more than coaching résumés.

Tennessee defensive line coach Tracy Rocker played for Auburn and was the SEC player of the player in 1988. The defensive tackle also won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies.

Vols assistant Charles Kelly, who coaches safeties and special teams, played at Auburn from 1986-89.

Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is a 1979 graduate of Tennessee and a former Vols' assistant coach.

Tigers' associate head coach Rodney Garner was on Tennessee's staff from 1996-97.

Vols' record after open dates

Although Tennessee hasn't won after an open date since 2014, the Vols are 80-45-9 in such games in their history. They are 46-31-2 in conference play.

Tennessee has played Auburn eight times after an open date and is 3-3-2.

Freshmen have accounted for 109 of Auburn's 172 points, including 11 of the Tigers' 19 touchdowns.

Tennessee freshman running back Jeremy Banks is tied for the team leading in rushing touchdowns with three.

UT and Auburn are two of only 11 teams nationally that don't have a senior starter on the offensive line.

Quarterbacks beware

Auburn has 15 sacks and 49 tackles for lost yardage.

The latter statistic averages out to 8.2 such tackles per game, which ranks 15th nationally.

While Tennessee has 10 sacks, outside linebacker Darrell Taylor had three against Georgia and also forced two fumbles. The single-game individual sack total is tied for seventh-best nationally.