KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Ohio Bobcats opened the season with a loss to Texas State, 56-54 in triple overtime.

In Week 2, the Bobcats traveled to Kansas and won 37-21.

Saturday, the Bobcats will bring their potent offense to Neyland Stadium. Ohio is averaging 45.5 points per game — ranked No. 21 nationally — and 563 yards per game. What’s equally impressive, the Bobcats have only turned the ball over three times.

There is a distant connection to Saturday’s matchup. Frank Solich is Ohio’s coach, but 15 years ago he was at Nebraska. His Cornhuskers backed into the BCS national championship game after Tennessee was upset by Nick Saban’s LSU Tigers in the SEC championship game.

The Vols were ranked No. 2 in the nation and were staring at a date with Miami in the national championship game. Instead, the Vols’ loss sent Solich’s Cornhuskers to play Miami instead. The Canes routed the Cornhuskers on the national stage, and soon after Solich’s seat got hot. He lasted only two more seasons.

Solich has been at Ohio since the 2005 season, accumulating an 81-62 record and three MAC Eastern division championships. Solich and Butch Jones squared off against each other in the 2009 MAC championship game, with Jones and his Central Michigan team winning 20-10.

Enough on the history lesson. Here’s how Jones’ current team stacks up against Solich’s current team.

Josh Dobbs vs. Ohio’s defense: Ohio is allowing 43.5 points per game and giving up 389 yards per game.

Against Kansas, it gave up only 232 total yards and only 26 rushing yards. In the opening game against Texas State, the Bobcats gave up 546 total yards. 440 yards were through the air and only 106 yards on the ground.

This might be a game in which Dobbs attacks through the air. He’s hit on two big pass plays this season, but the Vols have just nine completions longer than 10 yards. Only Vanderbilt has fewer. Ole Miss already has 24 such completions.

Saturday is the day to address that, a final tuneup before running into Florida’s talented secondary the following week.

Edge: Tennessee

Tennessee RBs vs. Ohio’s defense: As mentioned, Ohio has been successful defending the run in its first two games.

Safety Toran Davis leads the team with 19 tackles; linebackers Quentin Poling and Blair Brown have added 16 and 15, respectively.

It’s no surprise that Solich has a sound run defense, but Ohio hasn’t encountered a rushing attack featuring Jalen Hurd, Alvin Kamara and Dobbs. The Vols are averaging 113.7 yards per game between the three. This could be a game to get Kamara more carries before hitting the stretch of playing Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama.

Edge: Tennessee

Ohio’s offense vs. Tennessee’s defense: It’s fair to question the competition level Ohio has faced, but quarterback Greg Windham has thrown for 560 yards and five touchdowns and one interception. He’s also rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown. Dorian Brown leads Ohio in rushing with 186 yards.

The Bobcats have four players with 50 or more receiving yards, led by Papi White with 154 and Jordan Reid with 152.

The Vols have given up 21 points in the first quarter and have only given up 16 points from the second quarter on in two games. The Vols should look to having an early start and it could dictate the game early against the Ohio offense.

Edge: Tennessee

Special teams: Aaron Medley has made 3 of 4 four field goals this season, with a 39-yarder his longest. The junior kicker is also 8-for-8 on extra-points. Trevor Daniel has been good once again with a 45.8 average on 12 punts.

Louie Zervos has been responsible for 33 points for Ohio, connecting on 9-of-10 field goals and 6-of-7 extra-points. He’s 2-for-3 from 40 yards or longer. Michael Farkas has been solid for Ohio in the punting game. Farkas is averaging 42 yards on 10 punts along with a long of 50 yards and four punts inside the 20.

Touchbacks have kept Vols kick returner Evan Berry relatively quiet, by his standards. The Vols could use a breakout performance from him Saturday.

Edge: Even