SEC Set To Reveal Permanent Opponents For New 9-Game Format
Image: Bryan Lynn/USA Today
By Aidan Sidoti
The Vols are expected to learn their three annual SEC opponents on Tuesday, as the conference finalizes its future scheduling format, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione told ESPN’s Dari Nowkhah on Thursday.
The unveiling will be televised on SEC Network.
Alabama and Vanderbilt are widely expected to be two of Tennessee’s three permanent opponents. The third, however, still remains a point of debate on social media.
Florida or Kentucky?
For many, and including me, the answer seems obvious: Florida.
The Tennessee-Florida rivalry has been one of the most hotly contested matchups in the SEC since it became a yearly tradition in 1990.
From the frustration of the mid-90s Peyton Manning era to the dramatic 38-33 win in 2022, this rivalry has produced high-stakes matchups year after year.
To many other Vols fans, the answer seems even more obvious: Kentucky.
The Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry dates back to 1893 and stands as one of the oldest continuous matchups in the SEC.
The two programs have met every season since 1919, with the only interruption being 1943 due to World War II.
If the SEC’s goal is to preserve longstanding rivalries–even with Tennessee holding an 85-26-9 edge in the all-time series–having Kentucky as the third permanent rival seems like the logical choice.
