Above: Derrick Henry celebrates a touchdown against Mississippi State. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics)

Contrary to the opinions of some, neither Alabama nor Auburn has an off week prior to their annual gridiron meeting.

Alabama’s defense sacked Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott nine times. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics)

Alabama, again No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, welcomes Football Championship Subdivision Charleston Southern in a game that can be seen nationally at 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.

“You all may be taking the week off this week, but I’m not,” Tide coach Nick Saban told the media this week. “A lot of people take things for granted and I get asked questions like, ‘How important is for the young guys to get to play this week?’ Well, how in the heck do you know they’re going to get to play? Because you’re assuming that the other team is not very good?”

Saban reminded media members of Alabama’s 2011 game with FCS foe Georgia Southern. Alabama won 45-21 but not without the Eagles displaying a potent triple-option offense. Like Georgia Southern, the Buccaneers visit on Senior Day for the Crimson Tide (9-1).

Junior Derrick Henry sits atop the ESPN Experts’ Poll for Heisman Trophy contenders. Henry, who topped 200 yards rushing for the second straight week in beating Mississippi State, had 50 points; second-place Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield had 22.

Auburn’s Stephen Roberts makes a tackle against Georgia. (Zach Bland/Auburn Athletics)

The Tigers (5-5) could be somewhat shorthanded as Idaho (3-7) comes to Jordan Hare for a 3 p.m. game on the SEC Network’s alternate channel. Among the injured are center Austin Golson, offensive tackle Shon Coleman, defensive back Tray Matthews and quarterback Sean White.

White played briefly in the Tigers’ 20-13 loss to Georgia last week but was clearly slowed by a sore knee. Jeremy Johnson will probably start at quarterback for the third straight week and sixth time overall this season.

Here’s the rest of this week’s slate in the Alabama NewsCenter football preview. All college games are on Saturday unless otherwise noted. High school games are Friday, again unless noted.

OTHER STATE COLLEGES

Miles at Alabama State: Fresh off its victory in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship at Cramton Bowl, the Golden Bears are back in the capital city to close out their season at 2 p.m. The 20-7 win over Albany State was the sixth in a row for Miles.  The Hornets (5-5 overall and 5-4 in the Southwest Athletic Conference) will try to complete their season above .500.

UNA begins its bid for the Division II championship. (Mason Mathews/UNA)

Newberry College at North Alabama: The Lions (8-2) begin their bid for a Division II national championship as they host the Wolves at noon. This is the 20th time in school history that the North Alabama football team will have a chance to compete for the title. UNA and Northwest Missouri State are the only football programs in Division II history to have received 20 post-season bids.

Murray State at Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks marked their 10th straight week atop the Football Championship Subdivision, holding the top spot in both the STATS FCS and the FCS Coaches Polls. JSU (9-1, 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference) clinched its fifth OVC Championship on Saturday with a 56-28 win over Southeast Missouri. Coach John Grass’ team ends its regular season with a 1 p.m. kickoff as it hosts its Southerners Reunion.

South Alabama at Georgia State: The Jags (5-4, 3-2 Sun Belt) and Panthers (3-6, 2-3) will meet at 1 p.m. Central at the Georgia Dome, with the game set to be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Samford at Mercer: Coach Chris Hatcher’s team (5-5, 2-4 in the Southern Conference) is bidding to finish above .500 as it kicks off at 2 p.m. Central on ESPN3.

Alabama A&M at Alcorn State: The Bulldogs (2-7, 2-5 in the Southwest Athletic Conference) face the SWAC East Division-leading Braves at 2 p.m.

Troy: The Trojans are idle until visiting Georgia State at the Georgia Dome at 1 p.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving on ESPN3.

HIGH SCHOOL

Hoover got its payback against Vestavia Hills and now turns its sights on Spain Park. (Bernard Troncale/Alabama NewsCenter)

Class 7A: Hoover avenged its regular-season loss to its oldest rival, Vestavia Hills, with its 24-0 victory in the state playoffs. The Buccaneers (10-2) will bid for the same outcome as they visit Jaguar Stadium to face 11-1 crosstown rival Spain Park, which earned its first-ever on-field win over Hoover earlier this season. The Jaguars were No. 1 and the Bucs No. 5 in the final regular-season ranking of the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Class 6A: No. 3 Opelika (12-0) visits No. 2 Spanish Fort (12-0).

Class 5A: No. 2 Guntersville (12-0) travels to Kimberly to face No. 8 Mortimer Jordan (11-1).

Class 4A: No. 1 UMS-Wright hosts No. 3 and defending state champion Leeds.

Class 3A: No. 3 Piedmont (11-1) is at No. 1 Madison Academy (11-1).

Class 2A: No. 2 Cleveland (12-0) heads to Wedowee to face No. 7 Randolph County (12-0).

Class 1A: No. 1 Maplesville (10-1) hosts No. 3 Georgiana (11-1).

AISA: Bessemer Academy was undefeated a year ago before falling to Escambia in the Class AAA title game. The Rebels are again undefeated as they face Monroe Academy at 7 p.m. for the Class AAA crown in the Alabama Independent Schools Association.