Is Saturday the Biggest Game in 23 years?

[RDU VOL#14]

It’s Vandy. We know it’s Vandy, but with everything on the line, I can’t remember a bigger game since a December 2001 game in Atlanta . We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole of horror, but this seems like this is the biggest and best opportunity we’ve had in a long time . USCjr in 2022 is also in the discussion.

What say you guys and girls?

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

From a “win and your in” perspective, sure, but the stakes are pretty one sided.

 

[Behr]

So much on the line. "We" need this. To say we are actually "over the hump" we need to win this game. This isn't the biggest or best opponent we've faced this year, but this is by far the biggest most important game, to our program, in many many years.

That said, I believe we do.

Vols by Fiddy!!

 

[aRmo]

From a “win and your in” perspective, sure, but the stakes are pretty one sided.

True, but Vandy isnt the regular pushover this year. If we dont show up, they will win. We cannot sleep walk this one.

 

[Kicker82]

Biggest since vols gamecocks 2022 for sure

 

[PEPPERJAX]

It's time to kick some vandy azz like the Vols typically do inside of Neyland West.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

True, but Vandy isnt the regular pushover this year. If we dont show up, they will win. We cannot sleep walk this one.

I agree wholeheartedly. I just don’t know if I’d say it’s any bigger than the Georgia game the other day, for instance.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

From a “win and your in” perspective, sure, but the stakes are pretty one sided.

I agree that the stakes are one sided, but from an emotional, rivalry standpoint it’s also one sided . It’s a statement that has gotten way overused recently, but this is “Vandy’s Super Bowl”.

 

[Larkin]

Biggest game? No - That was Alabama 2022 which let the college football world know we were relevant again.
Biggest came of consequence as it relates to the new era of college football playoffs? You could argue that every game we've played except for the three buy games has been the biggest game of the year.
I would say it would rank as the 5th biggest game of this year behind NC STate, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

If Vandy were ranked in the Top 25 then maybe....but let's face it, its still Vandy.

The rub on Heupel is that he will drop a stinker every season - USCjr in 2022, Florida last year and Arkansas this year. We've already managed to achieve that stinker game this year. Glad it happened earlier this year than later.

Think about it, we lose to Georgia and Vandy at the end of the year, we ain't sniffing the playoffs.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I agree wholeheartedly. I just don’t know if I’d say it’s any bigger than the Georgia game the other day, for instance.

I think the difference is that there is more clarity in the CFP picture than there was before and after UGA. Win and we’re in.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Biggest game? No - That was Alabama 2022 which let the college football world know we were relevant again.
Biggest came of consequence as it relates to the new era of college football playoffs? You could argue that every game we've played except for the three buy games has been the biggest game of the year.
I would say it would rank as the 5th biggest game of this year behind NC STate, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

If Vandy were ranked in the Top 25 then maybe....but let's face it, its still Vandy.

The rub on Heupel is that he will drop a stinker every season - USCjr in 2022, Florida last year and Arkansas this year. We've already managed to achieve that stinker game this year. Glad it happened earlier this year than later.

Think about it, we lose to Georgia and Vandy at the end of the year, we ain't sniffing the playoffs.

The rub on most coaches is dropping a "stinker". Going to more prevalent now with portal parity

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I think the difference is that there is more clarity in the CFP picture than there was before and after UGA. Win and we’re in.

That much is true. It’s an elimination game.

 

[AdoptedVOL]

I can’t get myself to agree Vandy is the biggest game of year. Just not right.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

So much on the line. "We" need this. To say we are actually "over the hump" we need to win this game. This isn't the biggest or best opponent we've faced this year, but this is by far the biggest most important game, to our program, in many many years.

That said, I believe we do.

Vols by Fiddy!!

I agree with every word, except for one!

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

I can’t get myself to agree Vandy is the biggest game of year. Just not right.

Let’s put it this way… if TN loses Saturday, how damaging to the Heupel approval rating will that be? Does that help explain the significance?

 

[Volnanza]

Lets just say that it is a BIG game. Then we can say that every game we win after that is a bigger game. Once again, we pretty much control our own destiny. Fewer and fewer schools can say that.

 

[aRmo]

That much is true. It’s an elimination game.

Right, Win and we get to sit back and see how the committee handles the teams that play in conference championship games. I have UGA vs Texas with UGA beating Texas. Then Texas coming to Neyland for Rd 1

 

[The Original Fade]

From a “win and your in” perspective, sure, but the stakes are pretty one sided.

Not so sure on that. Knocking their rival out of the playoffs is probably more motivation for them than they’ve had in a long time

 

[Firebirdparts]

I don't know - I kinda hate these sorts of discussions. I would say that Arkansas turned out to be a big game because we lost. If you win Arkansas then this weekend looks like nothing. As it is, it'll turn out to be important if you lose it, as it'll determine what you're doing in the post season. That was always true, though. That's true every year.

Getting into the playoffs is some sort of "honor" but I don't really see it as all that interesting compared, for instance, with being the actual best team in the SEC or the country. Tennessee is definitely not either one of those. I'm a traditionalist, I guess.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Not so sure on that. Knocking their rival out of the playoffs is probably more motivation for them than they’ve had in a long time

They have motivation but no real stakes. I think a game between two playoff contenders in November comes with bigger stakes than anything with a 6-5 team. Don’t get me wrong, this game is enormous, but if Vandy loses, they just lose one game they’re expected to lose. It doesn’t ruin their season.

 

[08Vol]

Let’s put it this way… if TN loses Saturday, how damaging to the Heupel approval rating will that be? Does that help explain the significance?

If Vols lose it will cement the opinion that Heupel teams play poorly on the road.

 

[HollowaytoSeivers]

On defense: contain Diego Pavia, control the Vandy offense.

On offense: give Sampson some running lanes, take some shots downfield.

On special teams: pay attention to even the smallest details, don't allow Vandy to make a break.

Do those things, and the Vols go to the playoffs! GBO!!

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I agree. I can't think of a bigger game with this kind of stakes since that '01 title game. The one from 2016 wasn't for the playoff, just a NY6 bowl from what I recall and the 2022 SC game wasn't "big" because no one thought it would be competitive. This is a good Vandy team as much as it pains me to say it. This is for a chance to play in the new playoff.

 

[hbvol1982]

Vandy will be on fire to beat us, to ruin our dreams. Stuff them in a locker early, take their soul. Give them no hope. Put on more steam!

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I can’t get myself to agree Vandy is the biggest game of year. Just not right.

If you take the name and brand (or lack of brand) away and see that we punch our ticket to compete for a National Championship it’s easier to see that.