The Tennessee Vols are set to host the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday in Knoxville.

Alabama is coming off its first loss of the season after losing at home to Georgia this past weekend.

Tennessee, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought win on the road against Arkansas last Saturday in Fayetteville.

Both teams are looking to move to 6-1 on the season this weekend.

ESPN’s Greg McElroy shares his honest feelings on Tennessee ahead of matchup with Alabama

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy and play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough will be on the call on ABC on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville (Katie George will handle sideline reporter duties).

On Wednesday, McElroy shared his honest thoughts on where Tennessee is as a program at the midway point of the 2026 season.

“Tennessee is a confusing team for me,” said McElroy on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “There’s a lot of things to like and there’s a lot of things to be concerned about. The quarterback play in particular, there’s a little bit to be concerned about. I think Tennessee’s better, though, than what people might think. I think they’ve got really good defensive personnel. I think Tennessee is going to finish strong.

“I think [Alabama] is definitely the toughest game left on Tennessee’s schedule — even though it’s at home. They get LSU at home, too, at the end of the year. But this one is a tough one this week. But if somehow they [win] this one, then I mean, look at what’s left. They get South Carolina which is a toss-up game. Kentucky at home is a toss-up game. At Texas A&M, you feel pretty good about that one. LSU at home is probably a toss-up game, and then at Vandy, which I like them there. Like, things are pretty good for Tennessee.”

McElroy is right — if the Vols can somehow get a win over Alabama, they will suddenly been in a prime position to make the College Football Playoff. If Tennessee can beat Alabama to get to 6-1, they’ll just need to go 4-1 against South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas A&M, LSU, and Vanderbilt.

Now, there are no gimmes in the SEC — anyone can beat anyone on any given Saturday — but that’s very doable for the Volunteers.