KNOXVILLE, TN -- The Road to Omaha makes one more stop in Knoxville for both Tennessee and Notre Dame this weekend, as the Super Regionals get underway. This is it, lose 2 out of 3 and your season is over, so the stakes were already high for the upcoming matchup. Now add on the pressure of playing for a spot in the College World Series and it takes the stress level up a notch.

How we got to this point is in the rear-view mirror, nothing else matters besides what happens on the field starting tonight at 6 PM ET on ESPN2. The Fighting Irish arrived in Knoxville coming off a regional win at Georgia Southern, whom some had pegged to play Tennessee this weekend. But everything shifted once the Irish got out of Georgia and the Vols took care of business last weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

So, the Vols are running it back, in the same spot they were in last season, hosting a Super Regional for an appearance in Omaha. A lot has changed from last year's team, but the way in which this squad plays the game hasn't. We've all seen the videos floating around on social media of how the Vols have played the game this season, so there's no reason to rehash that. Either you like them or you hate them, there is no in-between with this squad.

But, Tennessee is getting their first look at Notre Dame, though the Irish are familiar with SEC territory, having played at Mississippi State last season. Vols head coach Tony Vitello will be trying to prepare his squad for a team that is deep at the pitcher spot, especially coming out of the pen. There's also the starting pitcher, Austin Temple, who is usually not their Friday night ace, whom Notre Dame coach Link Jarrett decided to start in place of All-ACC pitcher John Michael Bertrand because of his pitch count last weekend. The Irish are saving him for Game Two. Tony Vitello was asked what stands out about this Irish team, he pointed to the pitching depth.

“I mean it’s really deep, obviously. We are assured two games, but we’ll just worry about Friday now with Temple, likes to spin it but his fastball isn’t light either, kinda your typical deal in either our conference or those you’re gonna see on a Friday night.

"We talk about depth around here, because you guys bring it up, we feel confident in a variety of guys off the bench," Vitello added. "I think in particular pitching is an up and down thing for them, they’ll rely on guys in a bunch of different settings or roles. You can look at the save numbers and see that they trust a lot of guys that are capable of doing different things for them."

Austin Temple

No. 1 Tennessee Looking To Fight Off The Irish And Return To College World Series