Ranking Every Tennessee Football Game in 2015 by Importance

Oct 25, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) reacts after an interception against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Alabama won 34 to 20. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

12. Alabama Crimson Tide

Yes, we all want to beat Alabama every year, and in the midst of an eight-game losing streak to them, we want to beat them now more than ever.

But let’s play the realistic game real quick. If the Vols go 11-1 and only lose to the Tide on the road, it will not hurt them at all. They would still have a chance to win a national, conference, or division title with this loss alone, even if all of those things are insanely lofty goals.

And the Tide are still a dominant team, so with Tennessee playing them on the road, this is simply a loss all Vol fans can accept, even if they are going through a bit of a rebuilding phase this year.

In fact, playing them on the road could be a good thing. We kind of consider this a sure loss anyway, so it’s better to use up one of your road games on that than one of your home games.

If Tennessee loses to Alabama this year, even if it is for the ninth straight time, nobody will really be upset given what we expect of the Vols. If they somehow manage to upset the Crimson Tide, well that will simply be icing on the cake for this season and, provided they do what they should everywhere else, will turn this into an amazing season.

But beating Alabama is not necessary by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to making this year successful, so we can consider this loss okay.

Next: #11: Western Carolina Catamounts