Associated PressFile-This Sept. 24, 2016, file photo shows Mississippi defensive tackle Breeland Speaks (9) rushing Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason (10) into a pass in the second half of their NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss. The Rebels have outscored opponents 41-6 in the first quarter and 107-33 in the first half. The second-half Rebels improved against Georgia. (APPhoto/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

ATHENS — Tennessee has a chance to take control of the SEC East on the first Saturday of October.

The No. 11 Volunteers already knocked off one of the leading contenders in the division race, ending more than a decade of misery against Florida with a rousing second-half comeback.

Now, they’ll get a shot at No. 25 Georgia between the hedges.

If Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) can prevail against the No. 25 Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1), the Vols will not only be atop the standings but hold a tiebreaker edge over the two teams most likely to derail their hopes of reaching the league championship game for the first time since 2007.

Since the SEC went to divisional play in 1992, Tennessee has swept Florida and Georgia only three times. It’s been a dozen long years since the Vols last pulled it off, a gloomy era in which they went through three coaching changes, endured 11 straight losses to the Gators, and only managed a 4-7 mark against the Bulldogs.

But coach Butch Jones and the guys in orange sent a clear signal last week that things have changed on Rocky Top. After falling behind Florida 21-3 at halftime, Tennessee ripped off five touchdowns in the second half for a 38-31 victory over its longtime nemesis.

“It was definitely an emotional win,” safety Todd Kelly Jr. said. “It also took a lot of passion, but we realize you don’t win a season out of one game. It takes a lot of games to put it all together.”

Georgia is in a bit of desperation mode after a dismal performance at Ole Miss. The Bulldogs trailed by 31 at halftime and 45 in the third quarter before putting up two meaningless touchdowns that did nothing to ease to sting of a crushing 45-14 defeat .

Close calls against the Nicholls and Missouri raised doubts about Georgia. Total domination by Ole Miss on both sides of the line ended the honeymoon for first-year coach Kirby Smart.

“We’ve got to show improvement at pretty much every position,” Smart said bluntly.