Alabama football returns to Tennessee on the third Saturday in October to seek revenge for a loss in Knoxville in 2022. The Crimson Tide and Volunteers are both 5-1 entering the game, which could have big implications for the College Football Playoff race.

The game is scheduled to begin at 2:45 p.m. CT at Neyland Stadium. It airs on ABC.

Before the game begins, here are three keys to victory for Alabama.

Improve run defense

Alabama’s run defense was a problem. The Crimson Tide rank 14th out of 16 SEC teams in rushing defense, and Tennessee is certainly capable of capitalizing on that.

Volunteer running back Dylan Sampson can make Alabama pay for it. Entering the week, he was second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 15 touchdowns.

“He’s hard to bring down,” Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach said Wednesday. “We have to do our job by closing gaps and when we have the opportunity to box him in, we box him in and take him to the ground.”

UT is best known for the potential explosiveness of Josh Heupel’s offense. However, the Volunteers are relying more on the run this season, and if Alabama wants to prove itself as a playoff contender, it will have to learn to stop that part of the Tennessee attack.

Sustain drives

Alabama’s offense has earned a reputation for being feast or famine this season. The Crimson Tide can score with explosive plays, but can’t always sustain drives.

Tennessee’s offense is always just a play away. Keeping the ball out of the Tide’s hands would be a big boost for the Tide and allow their defense to rest.

Obviously, scoring quick, splashy touchdowns isn’t a bad thing. Alabama should continue to do this, especially if Ryan Williams can be as involved as he was in the win over Georgia.

However, if it can extend the rest of its attacks, the offense will be significantly improved. Maybe the Tide could even give Graham Nicholson a chance to make his third field goal of the season.

Get Jalen Milroe rolling

The key to the offensive drill for Alabama is Jalen Milroe. The quarterback didn’t have his best performance last week against South Carolina, but the Tennessee game is an opportunity for a big game against a top defense.

If Milroe takes on the Volunteers, it would give his Heisman Trophy campaign a boost. It would also give Alabama the best chance to win Saturday’s game.

Milroe will have his stable of receivers at full strength for Saturday, with Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice both off the availability report and presumably ready to play. Law, in particular, can help Milroe by providing him a forceful presence in the run-blocking area.

Tennessee’s defense is strong. However, this is a chance for Milroe to show he belongs among the game’s elite and lead Alabama to a win in Knoxville.