Tennessee fans of a certain age can remember when the Vols-Florida game was the most important regular-season date on the SEC calendar. The rivalry carried major implications for which team would win the SEC.

From 1992-01, Florida or Tennessee represented the SEC East in the SEC Championship each year.

The stakes aren't the same anymore.

Tennessee's last SEC championship was in 1998, and it last won the East in 2007. The Vols' lack of success – both as a whole and within this series – have cheapened this matchup.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Tennessee fans of a certain age&nbsp;can remember when the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2021/09/22/steve-spurrier-florida-football-tennessee-gators-rivalry-record/8377474002/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2021/09/22/steve-spurrier-florida-football-tennessee-gators-rivalry-record/8377474002/">Vols-Florida game was the most important regular-season date on the SEC calendar</a>.&nbsp;The rivalry carried major implications for which team would win the SEC.
From 1992-01, Florida or Tennessee represented the SEC East in the SEC Championship each year.
The stakes aren't the same anymore.
Tennessee's last SEC championship was in 1998, and it last won the East in 2007. The Vols' lack of success&nbsp;&ndash; both as a whole and within this series&nbsp;&ndash; have cheapened this matchup.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

Advertisement