Tennessee football, Vanderbilt in high-stakes game for a change | Adams

This week's Tennessee football game rarely has meant so much to Vanderbilt. The Commodores can cap a historically successful regular season by beating the Vols on Nov. 29.

They could qualify for the College Football Playoff. They could finish in the top 10. And they could end a five-game losing streak against a program that has dominated the in-state rivalry.

In most years, just beating the Vols would have been enough to make Vanderbilt’s season. But not this time. Now, they have something to lose.

However, Tennessee has something to lose, too.

Most UT fans are aware this Vanderbilt team is unlike any of its predecessors. They probably know the Commodores have lost only twice and haven’t been overwhelmed by a single opponent. Vanderbilt’s worst loss was by 16 points to Alabama, but that was misleading in that the Tide tacked on a touchdown in the final seconds.

UT fans might know all that. But many of them still would be ouraged if Vanderbilt beat their Vols in Neyland Stadium.

Such an outcome wouldn’t just mean the Commodores happened to be the better team on a single Saturday. They would be better according to their record and ranking as well.

That would be unacceptable to the majority of Tennessee fans, who often have entered this rivalry game with no more apprehension than they would have for a Sun Belt Conference opponent in September.

Vanderbilt is just one example of how different the sport has become. Indiana has emerged as a Big Ten powerhouse. Texas Tech is threatening to make the CFP.

This isn’t business as usual. And that can be downright revolting to traditionally successful programs.

Indiana is supposed to be a basketball school. Texas Tech is the school that helped make coach Mike Leach famous, but it’s not supposed to compete for national championships. Vanderbilt is supposed to be an academic school.

Such long-held beliefs don’t fade easily.

I’ve watched most of Vanderbilt’s games. I know how competent and how balanced it is. I know it can beat you with offense or defense. I also know that Diego Pavia is one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

It's 9-2 for a reason.

Despite that, I wasn’t sure it would beat Kentucky on Nov. 22. Why? Because I wondered if it could handle the pressure of such a high-stakes game that it was expected to win – that it had to win to stay in the running for the playoffs.

Such thinking is outdated.

Vanderbilt didn’t just beat Kentucky, which had won three consecutive games and gave up only 10 points combined to Auburn and Florida. It dominated the Wildcats.

And it handled the pressure.

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Neyland Stadium can be maddening for opponents. But no matter how loud it gets, you shouldn’t expect it to rattle the Commodores.

Vanderbilt might lose. But it won’t lose its cool.

In fact, Tennessee will need to do what it hasn’t done all season – beat a nationally ranked opponent. The turnovers that plagued it in losses to Alabama and Oklahoma could cost it just as dearly against the Commodores.

And if the Vols fail, fans won't remember this team for ending a 10-game losing streak against Florida in The Swamp. They will remember it as the team that lost to Vanderbilt.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football, Vanderbilt in high-stakes game for a change