Rece Davis gets it.

ESPN’s College Gameday host is also an Alabama alum, so he knows how high the stakes are this Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Alabama visits No. 6 Tennessee. And he also knows the pure intensity – and, yes, hatred – that is part of the Third Saturday in October.

But despite this being the biggest Alabama-Tennessee game in many years, Davis also knows there is a path to Atlanta for the loser of this game. He explained his theory on the College Gameday podcast.

“It’s a big game, and I’m not trying to diminish it at all. And it’s going to feel like that,” Davis said. “But the loser of this game still has plenty in front of them. Their margin for error is just reduced. And Tennessee’s is probably greatly reduced. It’s got high stakes, but it’s not the loser leaves town match.”

Both teams are undefeated, with Alabama at 6-0 and Tennessee at 5-0. Both are in each other’s way on a path to a national title. Alabama has won 15 in a row in the series since Nick Saban got to Tuscaloosa, and Davis knows Neyland Stadium will be rocking and hoping that streak finally ends.

Meanwhile, Alabama star quarterback Bryce Young is progressing with his sprained right shoulder after missing last week’s game against Texas A&M. But Davis isn’t sure the Crimson Tide should rush him back because he believes a loss Saturday isn’t the end of the road for either team.

“If you were advising Bryce Young, let’s say he’s not 100 percent, if he’s 75 percent but he takes another lick on that shoulder and it’s a nagging thing the rest of the season, what would you do?” Davis said.

We’ll find out Saturday when the Alabama offense trots out on the field.