On Monday, the SEC announced that Tennessee’s game at Vanderbilt on November 29 will kick off at 4:00 PM ET and air on the SEC Network.
#Vols 2014 regular-season finale at Vanderbilt will be a 4 p.m., kickoff on Nov. 29 on @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/lneqvKMXE5
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 10, 2014
Earlier on Monday, it was announced the Vols’ game against Missouri on November 22 will kick off at 7:30 PM ET on either ESPN or the SEC Network.
The announcements mean that Tennessee will not be featured on CBS during the 2014 season. This is the first season the Vols haven’t been featured on CBS since 1995.
No CBS game for Tennessee this season, first time since 1995. CBS signed its initial contract with the SEC in 1996.
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) November 10, 2014
A couple of things factored into Tennessee not being featured on CBS this season.
The first thing is the Vols’ record. Tennessee hasn’t fared well in recent years and even with the resurgence that Butch Jones has brought to the program, they still aren’t considered a draw by CBS.
The other factor was something that was out of the Vols’ control — the games they were passed over for.
Below are the Vols’ opportunities to be shown on CBS this season and the game that was shown by CBS instead.
September 27 — Tennessee @ Georgia VS Arkansas @ #6 Texas A&M
This one could’ve went either way. You can’t really fault CBS for choosing the Texas A&M game. Both games featured similar storylines. Tennessee and Arkansas were both teams that were “down” and were going up against teams whose stock was rising at the time. This was a complete toss up, though I am kind of surprised the rivalry game (UT @ UGA) didn’t get the nod.
October 4 — Florida @ Tennessee VS Alabama @ Ole Miss
There was a time when Tennessee/Florida was considered a lock to be the CBS game, but both programs have fallen in recent years (The Gators not so much as the Vols, but the point remains). However, no one was going to be shown over a matchup of unbeatens Alabama and Ole Miss. This was an easy call for CBS.
October 18 — Tennessee @ Ole Miss vs Texas A&M @ Alabama
Had Tennessee beat Florida on October 4, I honestly think Tennessee/Ole Miss would’ve got the nod here. But Texas A&M/Alabama was the only SEC matchup between ranked teams that week. This was also a pretty easy call for CBS, considering the circumstances.
October 25 — Alabama @ Tennessee VS Mississippi State @ Kentucky
Alabama @ Tennessee would’ve made much more sense here, but CBS probably didn’t want to put the Crimson Tide on three times in the month of October (not that CBS would’ve minded, but they probably wanted to avoid the anti-Bama backlash). With LSU slated for a night game, Mississippi State @ Kentucky was chosen over South Carolina @ Auburn.
November 1 — Tennessee @ South Carolina VS Florida @ Georgia
This one was already predetermined. The world’s largest outdoor cocktail party is always on CBS.
November 15 — Kentucky @ Tennessee VS Mississippi State @ Alabama
This is pretty much self explanatory. Mississippi State @ Alabama is one of the biggest games of the season.
November 22 — Missouri @ Tennessee VS Ole Miss @ Arkansas
This one kind of surprises me. This was the Vols last realistic chance to be featured on CBS this season (let’s face it, Tennessee @ Vanderbilt will never be, and should never be, featured on CBS). Missouri has a real shot to win the SEC East and this game could have huge implications on who plays in the SEC Championship game. Ole Miss @ Arkansas shouldn’t have any bearing on who wins the SEC West.
The Vols might have been shut out by CBS in 2014, but I’d bet that won’t be the case in 2015. The Vols are a program on the rise and they have a chance to finish with their first winning season since 2009.
Tennessee will be back on CBS next season. Go ahead and mark it down.