Tennessee coach Butch Jones gave high praise to upcoming opponent Alabama during his weekly press conference Monday. Jones called the current Tide team the “best Alabama team we’ve faced” since his first season with the Vols in 2013.

That’s a big compliment considering the previous three teams all finished with double digit wins, while the last two won SEC Championships and appeared in the College Football Playoff, including a 45-40 win against Clemson in last season’s national title game.

Tennessee has lost nine consecutive games against Alabama in the annual rivalry beginning with a 41-17 loss during Nick Saban’s first season in 2007. During Jones’ tenure, the Tide defeated the Vols 45-10 in 2013, 34-20 in 2014 and 19-14 in 2015.