Josh Heupel was trying not to think about Tennessee’s rivalry with Alabama football.

“That game’s a long way away from where we are today,” Heupel told reporter at SEC media days in Atlanta, when asked about the Third Saturday in October.

Heupel has had far more success against the Crimson Tide than most other recent Tennessee head coaches. In 2022, he and the Volunteers snapped a losing streak that dated back to 2007, prompting a legendary field rush in Knoxville.

Nick Saban won his last game in the rivalry, back in Tuscaloosa for the 2023 edition. However, Kalen DeBoer dropped his first, losing the return trip to Neyland Stadium in the most recent edition.

Heupel discussed how important the game is to him and his players, but noted the Volunteers need to control what they can and take the season a day at a time.

“If this football team is focused on that journey , day-in and day-out, we’ll have a chance to grow to be a team that can go down to Tuscaloosa, compete, and hopefully find a way to win,” Heupel said. “It’s one of the greatest rivalries I’ve ever been involved in. It’s a really unique game and a really unique setting. And a couple of years a go, we weren’t on the right side of it, but I’m looking forward to going down there and competing with this group.”

The rivalry could be in jeopardy moving forward. The SEC hasn’t made a call as to whether it’s moving to a nine-game league schedule in the long-term, or sticking at eight.

If it keeps an eight-game slate, the conference might just hold onto one yearly rival for each school. For Alabama, that would likely be Auburn, relegating the Tennessee game to non-yearly status.

Heupel was asked about the prospect in Atlanta. He spoke of how important the game is to him.

“I think the rivalries, the special games, different for each fan base, are a huge part of what fan bases look for and those experience that they know they’re going to have,” Heupel said. Whether it be a home game, road game or neutral site game. I think those are special things that make college football, are part of what college football is.”

Alabama and Tennessee’s next game is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide opens the campaign Aug. 30 at Florida State.

SEC media days will continue through Thursday in Atlanta.