Just how big is the Pitt game next Saturday?

[VolunteerHillbilly]

UF win just made Pitt game much more important.

 

[Volador]

One team walks away still undefeated and in the top 25. Other team might take weeks go get back in the top 25 but, if that team finishes strong, than this game will not be all that important.

 

[SDV]

What channel will this game be on?

 

[Delaware Vol]

What channel will this game be on?

ABC

 

[Delaware Vol]

It's definitely a big game, it's a springboard for the rest of the season, it sets the tone and it gives us legitimacy. Plus, it would be nice to get a measure of payback for last year. That was a game we really could have and maybe should have won. If we protect Hooker I think we win because I don't know if they can keep up with us in a high scoring affair.

 

[UTFanHades]

It’s big in the sense of being a significant out of conference game and a big opportunity to tee up 8-9 wins-nothing more. Florida is the must win that, fair or not, has a good chance to make or break the Heupel tenure. That’s the biggest game of the year and no others are remotely close.

 

[SDV]

ABC

Thank you!

 

[wmcovol]

It’s big but I’m not going crazy if they lose a close game. 10 more games to play, most are winnable.

 

[brockytop]

I think it's huge. Sets the entire tone for the season. Puts the nation on notice. We probably trade places with Pitt and get in top 20. Makes the Florida game bigger 2 weeks later. We win next week we could easily be 4-0 going to LSU. Then, not to look too far ahead, but you get by LSU and you're 5-0 (ranked 8-12) playing likely #1 Alabama at home.

If we want to make significant strides this season, I think winning @ Pitt will go a long way towards that. The next one is always the most important but this game is a HUGE HUGE HUGE tone setter.

Lose this one and TN most likely has a similar record as last season—which would be a big disappointment IMO.

 

[rocketskates]

It’s a big one. Beat Pitt, then steamroll Akron and you’re 3-0 with a good Florida team coming to Neyland. It would be electric.

 

[rocketskates]

Absolutely we make a quick rush to judgment and get emotional and angry after a loss. You will see some fans saying Fire Heup if they lose to Florida and Pitt we are impatient and overreact. Heup needs 4 full seasons here.

Yep. Heupel is showing us promise. We desperately need to be patient. Run this guy out of town and you’re back to square one with some bush leaguer. Heupel may very well be looked back on as one of the most important hires in Tennessee football history. I mean if they don’t get that hire right coming off of the heels of Pruitt this program may likely have never recovered in our lifetime.

 

[firestorm]

This is a highly important game mainly because the Volunteers in a rebuilding year lost to the Panthers in Rocky Top mainly because they were outplayed by the Panthers in the 4th Quarter.

The Volunteers can show they are an improved team early this season if they defeat the 17th-ranked Panthers team in Pittsburgh. The win would give the Volunteers confidence they can defeat other top 25 ranked teams before playing Florida, Alabama, Georgia, etc.

The Volunteers could still win more than 7 games including defeating a top 25 ranked team if they lost to the 17th ranked Panthers in Pittsburgh.
So I'll remain optimistic the Volunteers can still have an improved season if they lose a coin flip game to the 17th-ranked Panthers in Pittsburgh.

I'll still be highly disappointed if they lost to the Panthers for a second consecutive season mainly because 2022 isn't a rebuilding year, and Hooker gives the Volunteers the best chance to win.