Neyland Stadium needs power five non-conference opponents

With a fan capacity of 102,455 people, Neyland Stadium is a football sanctuary and a fantastic home-field advantage. However, it isn’t considered one of the toughest stadiums.

While Tennessee football cannot control the quality of the opponents in the SEC, they host, which always seems like a great lineup. They can control their non-conference schedule. And, Neyland Stadium deserves better.

The three non-conference home games for the 2018 season is an absolute disgrace to the fanbase. The fanbase deserves more, and so does Neyland Stadium.

The chances of selling out Neyland Stadium with ETSU, UTEP, and Charlotte coming to Knoxville is meager. However, to be fair, it is Jeremy Pruitt’s first season and the fan support is the best in the nation so maybe they will sell out.

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In the long run, playing teams like ETSU will make the average number in attendance fairly low. Not to mention, the games will be covered on like the SEC Network, which most fans won’t see. Who really cares about playing Charlotte?

Let’s flashback to the 2015 season. Who was our opponent? The Oklahoma Sooners, and they are a part of a power-five conference team. The more exciting part? That Oklahoma team was a top ten team in the nation.

That game was without question one of the most exciting non-conference matchups in recent memory. It was so impressive that the fans in attendance of that game were a part of Tennessee football history. The loudest moment ever recorded in Neyland Stadium history.

While Tennessee ended up choking in the fourth quarter, well I should say, Butch Jones, choked. Tennessee fans would love to have another power-five matchup in Neyland Stadium.

Scheduling power-five non-conference games is a must do for the Tennessee football program going forward. If Tennessee also wants to get back into competing for a national title every year, they have to schedule and win these games.

If they could start winning those types of games, it would help their case to claim playoff spots. And, even if they didn’t win, the quality of schedule of opponents would still support their argument when it comes to the selection committee process.

It also gives the national media more of a legitimate reason to come to Knoxville. Shows like College Gameday on ESPN and even SEC Nation from the SEC Network could air on campus. Big games would help excite any Tennessee fan.

Tennessee football could also stop being the laughing spotlight and be feared like they used to be.

While Tennessee is unable to change the scheduling for this season, they can certainly change it in the future. They need to schedule these power-five non-conference games in the upcoming years and every year at that.

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The ultimate factor of the matter is that Neyland Stadium needs to be an atmosphere where teams fear playing. Do this, and Jeremy Pruitt will make Tennessee great again, and the excitement will be back on Rocky Top.

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