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Tennessee football’s 2022 schedule: Ranking games by importance

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Florida Gators helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Florida Gators helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Florida Gators

Saturday, Sept. 24; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Related Story. Ranking all 12 games on Vols' 2022 schedule by difficulty. light

Florida and Kentucky are on opposite ends of the spectrum for Tennessee football. Regardless of how good or bad one team is playing, you always pick the Vols over the Wildcats, and you always pick the Gators over the Vols. Both have to head to Knoxville this year.

As a result, it’s fitting for these two games to be the most important games for the Vols this year. However, Florida is here for a reason. If UT can’t beat them this year, they will never beat them. The Gators are coming off a 6-7 campaign and entering the season under a new head coach in Billy Napier, who is changing up the system.

Add in the fact that the game is in September, when the player will still be adjusting to Napier, and that it’s on Rocky Top, and there’s no reason to believe the Vols can’t win. Now, this makes the Pitt game two weeks earlier so crucial because of the morale factor.

Still, if the Vols can win that game, they will enter this one 3-0 and with expectations through the roof. Winning gets them out of September with an undefeated record, and that’s when you can start talking about all of the possibilities down the road. Sure, you take it one game at a time, but this one means so much.

dark. Next. Ranking Vols' position units for 2022

If not for history, this game would almost be a circled win for Tennessee football. However, regardless, Florida being the most important game of the season is a welcome return for Vol fans. In 2012, losing to Florida resulted in Derek Dooley’s final season unraveling. It could do the opposite for Heupel this year.

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