ATHENS – Georgian football is returning home with plans to take to the ball in what it believes will still be a championship season.

The No. 5 Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) remain in contention for the SEC Championship and the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff after a 41-34 loss at Alabama last Saturday had to.

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But first things first: The Deep South's oldest rivalry with Auburn (2-3, 0-2) must be decided Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Sanford Stadium.

The Bulldogs will put their record-setting 26-game home winning streak on the line when second-year coach Hugh Freeze takes his wounded Tigers between the hedges.

Auburn has outscored its last two opponents – Arkansas (431-334 in a 24-14 loss) and Oklahoma (482-291 in a 27-21 loss) – only to have five turnovers in its loss to the Razorbacks . and a crucial pick-6 with 4:06 remaining in a loss to the Sooners.

The Tigers actually average more yards per offensive play (466) than the Bulldogs (431.5).

The Georgia-Auburn game is on ABC-TV's primetime afternoon slot, but it's not the only important SEC battle this weekend.

Here are other things to know before Saturday:

Statistical warning signs from UGA

Georgia's statistical rankings show the struggles the Bulldogs have had in their first two SEC games this season.

Georgia ranks 14th in the league and 106th in the country in third-down conversion rate (33 percent), as well as 13th in the SEC and 64th in the country in third-down conversion rate. Conversion defense (36.5 percent).

Most notable, however, was the Bulldogs' inability to control the offensive and defensive lines. Georgia ranks 14th in the SEC allowing 126.3 yards rushing per game and is 15th in the league allowing just 129.3 yards rushing per game.

Showdown in Texas

No. 9-ranked Missouri (4-0, 1-0 SEC) can take a big step toward proving itself as a true title contender when it takes on Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0) in the ABC noon game in Kyle Field.

It will be the Tigers' toughest test so far this season, as the Aggies are the 2.5-point favorite.

Missouri has won eight straight games since last season, while Texas A&M has won four straight games under new coach Mike Elko after a season-opening home loss to Notre Dame.

The Tigers have an experienced quarterback in Brady Cook, but the Aggies are tied for first in the SEC with seven interceptions and have held three straight opponents under 100 yards.

Depth could play a role, as temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s – and field temperatures are typically 10 degrees higher than air temperatures in many stadiums.

Ole Miss litmus test

Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1 SEC) and South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) meet in a crucial matchup in Columbia at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN).

The 12th-ranked Rebels are coming off an impressive 20-17 home loss to Kentucky and are fighting for their CFP field lives.

The Gamecocks, on the other hand, are coming off an open date and have a 31-6 road win over Kentucky this season.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart has proven explosive at times, leading the nation with 388 yards per game before last Saturday's 261-yard debacle.

The Gamecocks will counter with strong defensive line play as Kyle Kennard has 5.5 sacks this season, bringing speed off the edge.

Georgia-Auburn QB matchup

Carson Beck was most effective this season but failed to put up the same numbers as in 2023, resulting in him being the nation's top returning passer.

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne actually sat on the bench for two starts before regaining his job in the loss to Oklahoma.

Here's how the two quarterbacks compare:

Graduation rate: Beck 62.9; Thorne 59.8

Passing touchdowns: Beck 10; Thorn 10

Passing yards: Beck 1,119; Thorne 1,038

Passing yards per completion: Thorne 17.02; Beck 13.48

Total offense: Beck 295.8 per game; Thorne 290.8

Feature night game

Fourth-ranked Tennessee (4-0, 1-0) will look to prove it made the most of its week off when it takes on coach Sam Pittman's Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1).

Arkansas has beaten the Vols in their last three trips to Fayetteville, but the Razorbacks haven't beaten a top-five team since beating a strong Tennessee team that was ranked No. 3 in 1999.

Coach Josh Heupel is well aware that the margin for error in this game could be slim, saying, “The difference within this league is slim margins, and you have to win the margins in this league.”

Arkansas has a celebrated offensive mind under coordinator Bobby Petrino, but Tennessee's defense has allowed just one play of 31 yards or more this season and is second nationally in scoring defense with 7 points per game.

Clearance at Vandy

It's a safe bet that there will be more Alabama fans in Nashville for the Vanderbilt game than there will be Commodores fans for the 4:15 p.m. game.

The Tide has won 12 straight in the scattered (non-annual) series, dating back to a 30-21 loss in 1984, and won the last meeting in 2022, 55-3.