Tennessee football: Ranking every 2020 game by difficulty

5. Nov. 21 – at Auburn Tigers

Now we get to three games that are likely losses but not sure losses for Tennessee football. With any luck, the Vols could turn these into semi toss-up games. The first one, ironically, happens to be the only one they are playing on the road, and it’s the renewal of an old, traditional rivalry that dates back to the mid-1950s when Johnny Majors was playing for Rocky Top.

UT travels back to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face the Auburn Tigers and Gus Malzahn. Two years ago, Jeremy Pruitt got his first signature win with the Vols at Auburn, a game that ended numerous losing streaks suffered by the Vols. Now, in 2020, Auburn will want revenge, and they will be thinking about a lot more than just beating Pruitt’s team.

With Bo Nix back, Malzahn may have a national title contender on his hands that we just don’t know about yet. By the time Auburn plays UT, though, we will know, as they only have two games after the Vols. Those two games are what make them the most beatable team on this schedule.

Right after facing Rocky Top, Auburn has the Iron Bowl at the Alabama Crimson Tide. If they are in any sort of contention for anything, or even if they aren’t, they’ll be looking ahead to that game. As a result, the Vols could catch them in a trap, just as the Georgia Bulldogs almost did as heavy underdogs way back in 2013. That combined with Pruitt owning Malzahn helps UT.