Another week, another first-year head coach on the opposite sideline, another challenge.

New Ole Miss coach Ed Oregeron, formerly assistant head coach at two-time defending national champion Southern Cal, brings his Rebels into Neyland Stadium for a 12:30 p.m. matchup today.

Oregeron is the third of four new head coaches UT coach Phillip Fulmer will face this season. Today will be the third in a row for Fulmer.

Urban Meyer and Florida got the best of the Vols by a 16-7 count in Gainesville two weeks ago, and last week UT beat first-year LSU coach Les Miles 30-27 in overtime.

On Oct. 29, Fulmer meets familiar nemesis and former Florida coach Steve Spurrier, who is in his first-year at South Carolina. The Vols play at Notre Dame on Nov. 5. Charlie Weis has the Irish off to a surprising start with new coach Charlie Weis.

Fulmer has a 19-4 record when facing a first-year head coach but since 2000 is 7-4 against newcomers. His losses have come to Nick Saban (LSU, 2000), Mark Richt (Georgia, 2001), Ron Zook (Florida, 2002) and Meyer.

Fulmer said facing a first-year head coach is somewhat different than preparing for a familiar foe, but it still boils down to the players.

"It's not the Xs and Os, it's the Jimmys and Joes,'' Fulmer said. "I don't worry about who's on the sideline as much as who's on the field. That's who's going to win or lose the game.''

Fulmer said head coaches typically bring the same approach to their new program as they've had at their previous institution.

"With Ole Miss at least we've got some games to study to know what we're going to get,'' Fulmer said. "We had one (game film) against LSU, and two that weren't very good, honestly, with Florida that we studied.

"Sometimes there will be changes, and we'll have to adjust during the game.''

UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said he's seen similarities between what Oregeron did at Southern Cal and what he's trying to do at Ole Miss.

"They're pretty diverse with their coverage and they bring pressure with their linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties,'' Sanders said. "They're not very predictable, and they've taken different approaches each week depending on who they're playing.

"It will be interesting to see what approach they take against us.''

There's a perception Tennessee's offensive system has become somewhat predictable, but Sanders points out the Vols have used different approaches in each of their first three games.

"Against UAB (in the opener) we ran a lot of three-wide (receiver sets) and at Florida we played tight end and two-back (formations),'' Sanders said. "Against LSU you saw a lot of four-wide (receiver sets).''

Sanders said he prefers matching wits with a familiar coach.

"They know you, you know them, and you can count on them doing certain things in certain situations,'' Sanders said. "It's a little more challenging preparing this week.''

UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said his unit will play within its personality, regardless of the opponent.

"It's not really that different preparing for a first-year coach,'' Chavis said. "You get the tendencies of what they've done other places and go from there. They are usually pretty consistent.

"I didn't study USC offensive film for this game; I looked at (Ole Miss') first three games. We'll just play our defense.''

All-SEC defensive back Jason Allen said playing against a team with a new coach doesn't have much of an effect on the players.

"Their coach may try to hype them up a bit, trying to get them to make a name for themselves,'' Allen said. "And the schemes change a little but it doesn't affect us as players. We're still going out there with our same mentality.''