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Tennessee football: Ranking games on 2021 schedule by difficulty

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: The Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a touchdown during the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: The Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a touchdown during the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

9. Bowling Green Falcons

Thursday, Sept. 2; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Yes, Tennessee football’s opener is almost as winnable as its final game. However, the Bowling Green Falcons, funny enough, are in slightly better shape than the Vanderbilt Commodores right now, so we have BGSU as a slightly tougher game. Both are at Neyland Stadium.

BGSU will have more time to prepare than Vandy since it’s not at the end of the season and more excitement than Vandy given the delusions that something is still possible. On top of that, the Vols will be much more familiar with Josh Heupel’s system in November than they will be in September, making them much more vulnerable to upset losses around this time.

Don’t kid yourself, though. Bowling Green is still an easy win. Entering his third year on the job, Scot Loeffler is coming off an 0-5 season, all in MAC play. The year before, his first on the job, he went 3-9, and there was no COVID excuse that season.

To fans of the program, Loeffler is running out of time. There is reason to believe he has a better team this year, and more consistency puts it above the other non-Power Five foes. However, the Vols should still have an easy opener, and getting it on Thursday night is a chance for them to rack up lots of points in front of a national audience.

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