The Southeastern Conference schedule does not let up as Alabama travels for its toughest game of the season. It’ll start the trek to Tennessee on Friday for the 105th meeting between the Volunteers and the Crimson Tide. The anticipation for this Third Saturday in October has built each week as both sides enter undefeated and with elite units.

No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) is led by a dynamic defense that held its ground last week to escape Texas A&M 24-20. Quarterback Bryce Young is practicing, but Josh Heupel’s No. 6 Tennessee (5-0, 2-0) is preparing for both Young and Jalen Milroe. The Volunteers smashed LSU in Baton Rogue, La., for its third win over a ranked opponent. Hendon Hooker leads one of the best offenses in the nation with an SEC-high 46.8 points per game.

Neyland Stadium is set for history in a primetime 2:30 p.m. CDT window as the Vols look to snap a 15-game losing streak against Nick Saban and the Tide. Here’s everything Alabama said about Tennessee and the host’s thoughts on the visitors. Does Hooker believe in “rat poison?”

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Nick Saban, Alabama head coach

On Vols QB Hendon Hooker: “First of all, the guy’s a really good athlete. Knows the offense really well. Can make plays with his feet, but he’s a really, really good passer. He’s very accurate, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes with the ball, doesn’t throw any interceptions, completing 70% of his balls.”

On junior WR Jalin Hyatt: “He’s an outstanding player. He’s got really good speed. Their offense spreads people out, and they take great advantage of spreading the ball around to all their skill players. He in particular has made a lot of big plays, which they take a lot of shots, and they’ve converted a lot of shots. One of the keys to the game is not giving up big plays, and that’ll be really important for us if we’re gonna be successful against them on defense.”

On Tennessee’s run defense: “They’re physical up front. They play hard. They’re aggressive in terms of their style of bringing people, creating negative plays. They tackle well. They play hard. They play well together. They have a good understanding of what they’re trying to get done on each call. They’re a good front seven.”

Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama LB and former Volunteer

On facing his former squad: “Definitely super excited. You guys already know my journey and where I started. So definitely going to be a huge challenge. They’re a great team. It’s gonna be a great environment, so we’re excited about playing in another hostile environment, being able to test who we are as a team. It’s just another game on the road for us, big rivalry game tradition-wise. This tradition runs deep so we’re super excited to be able to uphold that tradition and that legacy of Alabama football.”

Jordan Battle, Alabama DB

On the Volunteers’ tempo offense: “They’re going to take shots and then they’re going to hurry up to the ball. Just focusing in practice on getting to the ball quick, getting ready and lined up, getting ready for the call, so players are comfortable out there. Just doing that in practice to make sure we’re comfortable in the game.

“Watching the game from last year, just seeing their quick tempo, even their games from this year, watching them against LSU, people are getting to the ball. The snap of the ball was like two seconds off the shot clock. So just being able to get up and get ready and play the next play.”

Dallas Turber, Alabama LB

On Hendon Hooker: “How comfortably he runs the offense and stuff like that. He is a good quarterback and stuff like that, but you can tell where he is going when he passes. How the scheme runs over there at Tennessee and it works, seriously.”

What the Vols said about the Tide

Head coach Josh Heupel on preparing for Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe: “I think you have to prepare for both of them. You have to have a plan, even if you know who the starter is, just because you know that there’s going to be some things that are different depending on if the other guy goes into the football game. For us, starting with Coach (Tim) Banks, then our defensive staff and our players, understanding who’s in, the type of things that you’re going to see.”

On To’oTo’o: “He’s athletic. Has the ability to play sideline to sideline. I think he’s continued to grow in his eye discipline and understanding of offensive and defensive structures and does a really good job. I think he sees things extremely well inside the core and is a really, really good football player.”

On Tide running game: “I think they do a great job of pressing combinations, delivering the offensive line to second-level blocks. I think they have a great pace as the run’s developing. They’re explosive with the ball in their hands. Once they hit the line of scrimmage, they’re able to get to full speed extremely well. I think they finish their runs, playing with great pad level. (Jahmyr) Gibbs obviously has great elusiveness, and the ability to make you miss is a home-run hitter. For us, you don’t want to let those guys get started.”

On what beating Alabama would mean: “This is a big one because it’s the next one. Obviously, this is a rivalry game, too. We understand the type of opponent that we’re playing. It’s a big game for everybody inside the program because this is the one we’ve got Saturday afternoon. For our fanbase, our former players, understanding the importance, this is one of the games that everybody circles. At the same time, there’s not a play that we made or didn’t make last week that is going to help us in this one. Same is true with this rivalry over the recent years. For everybody inside of our program, it’s about this week, this opportunity.”

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee QB on his relationship with Bryce Young: “Awesome player. Very electric, love to see him play. We spent some time at the Manning Passing Academy and chopped it up a little bit. Just had a really good time, a genuine time of enjoying everybody that was there. Just having general conversation and sometimes here and there we’d throw out, ‘Hey, if it’s 3rd-and-15 and you’re on the 10, what are you thinking?’”

On believing in “rat poison:” “Definitely. Being complacent is a bad thing in any field that you’re in. So, continuing to push forward and persevere through compliments or failures, you never know which side you’ll be on, but continuing to just do your job and keep your eyes on the main goal is the main thing.”

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].