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On3's Andy Staples predicts Tennessee Football's three annual rivalry games

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/22/25GrantRamey
Tennessee Football | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) and defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) tackle Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (1) during a SEC conference game between Tennessee and Florida in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

The SEC’s move to a nine-game schedule means Tennessee will add three permanent rivals beginning next season, while rotating through the rest of the league with the other six games. The question on Thursday, when the news was announced, immediately became who those three teams would be.

On3’s Andy Staples predicted the answer on Friday morning. For the Vols, it was Alabama, Florida and Vanderbilt. 

‘The Third Saturday in October’ rivalry between Tennessee and Alabama was one of seven rivalries that Staples described as untouchable, along with Alabama-Auburn, Georgia-Auburn, Florida-Georgia, Mississippi State-Ole Miss, Oklahoma-Texas and Texas-Texas A&M.

“Whether it’s me choosing the matchups or an analytics firm,” Staples wrote, “certain games must be played annually. These are non-negotiable. Basically, if the game has a name, it has to be played every year.”

The SEC’s press release on Thursday noted that the move to three annual opponents each season is an effort to “maintain many traditional rivalries.”

“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said on Thursday. 

“This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”

Andy Staples SEC Annual Rivalry Predictions

AlabamaAuburnTennesseeLSU
ArkansasMissouriTexasTexas A&M
AuburnAlabamaGeorgiaVanderbilt
FloridaGeorgiaTennesseeOklahoma
Georgia AuburnFloridaKentucky
KentuckyGeorgiaMiss. StateSouth Carolina
LSUAlabamaOle MissTexas A&M
Miss. StateKentuckyOle MissVanderbilt
MissouriArkansasOklahomaSouth Carolina
OklahomaFloridaMissouriTexas
Ole MissLSUMiss. StateSouth Carolina
South CarolinaKentuckyMissouriOle Miss
TennesseeAlabamaFloridaVanderbilt
Texas Arkansas OklahomaTexas A&M
Texas A&MArkansasLSUTexas
VanderbiltAuburnTennesseeMiss. State

Tennessee’s three most traditional rivals: Alabama, Kentucky, Vanderbilt

Alabama and Vanderbilt fit the as traditional rivals that should be protected.

Tennessee’s series with Vanderbilt is the oldest, with its 119 games dating back to 1892. Only the Kentucky series, with 120 games, has been played more. Tennessee and Alabama have played 107 times since 1901.

The Vols have played Florida 54 times — the same number of times they’ve played Georgia and Auburn — with the series becoming an annual rivalry game when the SEC split into east and west divisions in 1992.

Tennessee and Florida played 19 times between 1916 and 1985, but have played every season since 1990. 

“Florida-Tennessee and Alabama-LSU became great rivalries during — and probably because of — the divisional era,” Staples wrote. “Those series don’t have the history of the non-negotiable games, but they’re fun and people seem to enjoy watching them on television.

“When in doubt,” Staples continued, “I opted for ratings. The schools probably won’t want to do this, and if the people hired to make the schedules are doing them with balance in mind, they probably won’t lean this way either.”

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