Tennessee vs Alabama kickoff time announced and it's bad news for the Vols

Right now, the full focus for Tennessee football is on hosting Arkansas this weekend. However, we don't blame you if you've got one eye on the Alabama showdown that's coming next Saturday for Week 8. Bama vs. the Vols? Nothing else needs to be said.

Well, kickoff time was just announced for this upcoming showdown and it provides some good and bad news for the UT faithful. The good news is that this matchup is going to be showcased nationally on ABC, as it's easily going to be one of the best games of that weekend.

3 unlikely people Tennessee football must thank for new rise in the AP Poll

However, the bad news is that a night showdown is on the way for the third Saturday in October, with things set to start at 7:30 p.m. ET. Yup, it's a primetime matchup and the stadium in Tuscaloosa is going to be ROCKING for this one. Could this end up providing issues for Joey Aguilar and the offense?

Tennessee vs Alabama in Week 8 is getting the primetime treatment on ABC

If you want to be considered one of the best teams in the country, you've got to take down the fierce competition in front of you. That's the mindset the Vols are going to have the rest of the way, of course also including for this titanic meeting with the Tide.

Alabama opened the season with a deflating loss on the road to Florida State, but the Tide have been perfect since. This past weekend, Alabama took down Vanderbilt at Bryant-Denny Stadium, getting some sweet revenge on Diego Pavia.

The Vols were off on a bye, but thanks to Texas and others blowing it, Tennessee moved up three spots in the AP Poll to No. 12 in the country. Alabama is currently checking in at No. 8 on the list, with the confidence riding high for Ty Simpson and the rest of the guys in the locker room.

The same can be said for Tennessee, with Aguilar also looking like one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. The hope is that Jermod McCoy, an All-American cornerback, can make his debut vs. Arkansas and be good to go vs. Alabama too. Tennessee will need McCoy close to 100 percent if it wants to pull off an upset vs. the Tide, but things no question have gotten tough with the late start now being official.