Tenn not only DOES lose to those programs, they often do so in spectacular fashion (i.e. blowouts). The "good old days" are over, and they aren't coming back. The reason those days are over is tied to a shift in the dynamics of CFB which began with the huge television contracts a little over 15 years ago. It led to conference expansions/realignments and more importantly, it led to huge conference payouts to EVERY member of the conference. Now EVERY member school has a large revenue stream, not just a few of the previous "elite". Facility advantages vaporizes in this new era. In todays world of CFB, Tenn beating other programs annually is NOT a "given" anymore. Everyone on here wants to believe this historically long bad streak is the product of bad coaching, and that has played a part, but the changing landscape of the game elevated other programs which snowballed the effects at Tenn and took away a lot of the advantages they once had. The good old days are gone, and they aren't coming back.
The only "Givens" going forward are that Tenn cannot take any team for granted anymore and losing streaks to the likes of Vandy and Mizzou will occasionally occur. Someone will pipe in and argue that there still exists advantages in school 'BRANDS", and that is true. Bama, Clemson, Texas, UF, UGA, ND, OSU, Mich, OK, LSU and a few other teams have a marked NATIONAL BRAND that appeals to young recruits. Don't fool yourself and think UT's brand is in the same league with those schools, because it is not. Aside from brands, the only other aspect which can help elevate programs above others is the natural recruiting footprint for each team. Some schools have natural advantages here and when combined with a successful national brand it magnifies the advantage. Tenn does not have any natural recruiting footprint advantages over most of its conference peers. So, in conclusion: Revenue parity erases many facility advantages over time, UT does not have a 'Brand" advantage and it does not enjoy a natural recruiting footprint advantage over most of its competition. Welcome to the new world order where the old "givens" ain't givens anymore.