The No. 1 Texas Longhorns face the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The game will air on ABC, which you can stream free on DIRECTV.

Where to watch Texas vs. Tennessee for free

Tonight’s matchup: No. 1 Texas Longhorns (3-0) vs. No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers (3-0)

When: Saturday, Sep. 26, 12 p.m. ET

TV Channel: ABC

Stream: DIRECTV (free trial), FuboTV (free trial)

DIRECTV (free trial) and FuboTV (free trial) both offer ABC for virtually the same price. Fubo’s “Pro” package costs $88.99, while DIRECTV’s “Entertainment” package is $89.99. Both options offer a free trial and money off the first month of subscription. Your free trial will start once you create an account.

READ MORE: Where to watch the top college football games for free this weekend

Why today’s game matters

One of the biggest games of the early college football season arrives Saturday when No. 1 Texas travels to Neyland Stadium to face No. 14 Tennessee in a matchup that could have major SEC and College Football Playoff implications. Both teams enter the showdown unbeaten at 3-0.

Texas has looked the part of a national title contender under coach Steve Sarkisian. Quarterback Arch Manning has thrown for 664 yards and seven touchdowns, while the Longhorns have paired an efficient offense with a defense allowing just 12 points per game. Texas is coming off a 30-6 victory over UTSA and owns an early-season resume highlighted by a win over Ohio State.

Tennessee presents a much different challenge. The Volunteers are averaging 47.7 points per game behind freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who has six touchdown passes and no interceptions. Tennessee’s rushing attack has been among the nation’s best, averaging nearly 300 yards per game, with DeSean Bishop leading the way.

The key matchup will be Texas’ defensive front against Tennessee’s ground game. If the Volunteers can establish the run and energize a packed home crowd, they could put pressure on Manning in his toughest road environment to date.

For Texas, this is an opportunity to validate its No. 1 ranking. For Tennessee, it’s a chance to announce itself as a legitimate SEC and playoff contender.