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Tennessee football: Ranking 2020 games by importance

By Caleb Calhoun

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images
Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images /

1. Sept. 26 – at South Carolina Gamecocks

Yes, the most important game for Tennessee football’s 2020 season is the opener against the South Carolina Gamecocks. If the Vols don’t win this game, they have no shot of reaching their goals the rest of the season.

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Will Muschamp’s team is on a downward trajectory as a program. Jeremy Pruitt’s team is on an upward trajectory. There doesn’t seem to be room in the long-term for both of these Nick Saban defensive coordinators in the SEC East with Kirby Smart already there. This game will either solidify the trajectory of both programs or reverse it.

Just like the Kentucky Wildcats, South Carolina is a toss-up game. Although Kentucky may be a bit better and the location of these games are irrelevant, UT needs the South Carolina win more. The Vols ended Muschamp’s ownership of them last year, and they need to be able to continue that into this year.

If they don’t win this one, Rocky Top is competing from way behind in its goal for a winning record. The new schedule will almost make it impossible. It’s not like last year, when they were able to rebound from their horrendous losses to two Group of Five teams at home to open the season. Losing here will wreck them.

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Ironically, this game is as important for South Carolina as it is for Tennessee football. As a result, both teams will be desperately competing for a win in front of a night-time audience, which could make for an epic showdown.

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