The Crimson Tide is currently riding an eight-game winning streak over the Volunteers

MFBTUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama started preparations for this weekend’s rivalry game with Tennessee, putting in two hours of work in full pads on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.

The Crimson Tide will look to improve upon last weekend’s defensive performance in College Station, with UA intercepting four passes and limiting the Aggies to a season-low 23 points scored. Alabama welcomes Tennessee to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the annual “Third Saturday in October” contest this Saturday, Oct. 24. The game will air live on CBS with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson working the booth and Allie LaForce on the sidelines.

Alabama owns the all-time advantage over Tennessee, 51-38-7 (52-37-8 actual), and will meet for the 98th time this Saturday. The rivalry dates back to the 1901 season, when the two teams first met in Birmingham and finished knotted in a 6-6 tie. The Crimson Tide has won the last eight meetings, including last season’s matchup in Knoxville that saw UA leave with a 34-20 victory over the Vols.

Earlier in the day, Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick shared AutoNation FWAA National Defensive Player of the Week honors. The two defensive backs combined for four picks, three of which were returned for touchdowns, and helped accumulate a program-record 207 return yards to come away with the Tide’s second top-10 road victory of the season. The recognition was Fitzpatrick’s second of the week, as he was also named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday morning.