AUBURN, Ala. - Junior Rosegreen won't likely forget his four-interception game against Tennessee. Fellow Auburn defensive back Carlos Rogers is constantly reminding Rosegreen of his record-setting performance - in backhanded sort of way.

"I always bring it up and say you got four in that game and haven't gotten any since," Rogers said.

That game notwithstanding, the two defensive stars for No. 3 Auburn (11-0) haven't produced flashy statistics but they have come through in the biggest games for the nation's top scoring defense.

None will be bigger than Saturday's rematch with No. 15 Tennessee (9-2), with a win landing the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl or possibly the Orange Bowl. A loss sends them to a lesser payday in the Capital One Bowl.

Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik said DBs can't always be judged by the stat sheet.

"I think that's a great example of what's happening with both those guys," Chizik said. "If you don't see them making an interception or a big hit, you may assume they're not really doing much but that's not necessarily the case."

Rogers and Rosegreen, seniors with a combined 80 career starts, have hardly gone unnoticed. Rosegreen tied a 65-year-old SEC record with his four interceptions against Tennessee and intercepted a pass to end LSU's final drive in a 10-9 victory two weeks earlier.

He also forced a fumble with a jarring hit against Georgia's Reggie Brown to end a promising drive in that 24-6 win.

Quarterbacks have hardly challenged Rogers this season. They have thrown to his man 62 times for 17 completions with eight deflections and two interceptions. But his national stock shot up with a stellar performance against No. 8 Georgia.

Rogers intercepted a pass in the end zone and also had a share of a fourth-quarter sack and a season-high eight tackles.

He's a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player, and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back.

When Rogers decided to return for his senior season, the impact was largely overshadowed because he announced his decision jointly with star tailbacks Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. Like those two, he has made himself a likely first-round NFL draft pick.

"The things I wanted to do are happening," said Rogers, whose 38 career pass deflections rank second in SEC history. "I'm very proud of the way I handled that situation by coming back and the way the season has been going for me individually and as a team."

Rosegreen is also savoring the wins, but desperately wants to end his interception drought. He picked off three passes against Erik Ainge in the first meeting with the Vols and a fourth thrown by Brent Schaeffer, matching his career total.

With those two injured, Rick Clausen has become the Vols' starter. Rosegreen doesn't care who's handling the passing, he's just craving one pick - never mind four.

"I'm so hungry for a ball right now," Rosegreen said. "I just can't explain how hungry I am just to feel the ball. But we're winning, we're doing good things, and I'm happy, even though I haven't gotten my hands on a ball."