Most Anticipated Matchups Remaining on 2016 College Football Schedule

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dduncan4163

dduncan4163

Have at it Hoss
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Most Anticipated Matchups Remaining on 2016 College Football Schedule | Bleacher Report

Tennessee at Texas A&M (Oct. 8)

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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Kevin Sumlin has found more solid footing at Texas A&M.


Entering 2016, Kevin Sumlin was feeling the heat in College Station. Texas A&M’s head coach had struggled to replicate the early success he found with Johnny Manziel, going 11-13 in SEC play over the next three seasons and watching elite quarterback recruits Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen transfer to Oklahoma and Houston, respectively.
However, four games into the season, Sumlin has found his groove. New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and graduate transfer quarterback Trevor Knight are a potent duo; Knight has thrown for 1,055 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, and A&M leads the SEC in rushing at 269.3 yards per game, ranking No. 10 nationally.
Meanwhile, a defense led by sack-happy defensive end Myles Garrett has been excellent, allowing 16 points per game, ranking No. 18 nationally. The Aggies passed a big test by belting Arkansas 45-24 at AT&T Stadium and have cracked the Top 10 nationally. They should ease past South Carolina this week to begin a season-defining stretch versus the Vols on Oct. 8 and at Alabama on Oct. 22.
Which team will be ready to challenge the Tide as the SEC’s best team? We’ll find out soon enough.
 
#2
#2
Alabama at Tennessee (Oct. 15)

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Alabama-Tennessee is one of college football’s most storied rivalries and was once one of its most intense. But over the past decade, the Third Saturday in October has lost a bit of its luster. Under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have become college football’s best program, winning four titles in nine seasons. Meanwhile, Tennessee descended into mediocrity with the end of the Phillip Fulmer era followed by disastrous tenures of Derek Dooley and Lane Kiffin.
Alabama turned the rivalry into a rout, winning nine consecutive games—seven by double digits and four by at least 24 points. Butch Jones is bringing the Vols back to the forefront of the SEC, however. Saturday’s stirring 38-28 comeback win over Florida (which came after UT spotted the Gators a 21-0 lead) was the program’s first win over UF in 12 tries. While UT’s defense took a major blow with cornerback Cameron Sutton’s ankle injury, quarterback Joshua Dobbs is showing improvement as a passer, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 805 yards in four games.
Tennessee has big tests ahead the next two weeks against Georgia and Texas A&M, but the Volunteers (who watched Alabama mount a late comeback for a 19-14 win last fall) would love a chance to break this series losing streak too. They’ll be fired up for the Oct. 15 showdown in Knoxville.
 
#5
#5
If we take out Georgia and A&M, I don't see Bama stopping us. These are good times folks, I'm enjoying the hell outta this season so far.
 
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#6
#6
Just need to get through this stretch at 2-1 to control our own playoff destiny. A 1-loss SEC champ will almost always get in. A 2-loss champ would have an outside chance depending on what the rest of the country does.
 
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#11
#11
I'm enjoying being back in the spotlight. Whether its my friends (Anti Vols fans) wanting to see us fail or the media talking smack about our #9 preseason rank the attention is great.

Like Kanye says.....

"Everybody gon' say something. I'd be worried if they said nothing"
 
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#12
#12
Imagine the hype if both teams come into Neyland on October 15th undefeated. Not looking past UGA or TAMU but if we can win these next two, the hype around that game will blow the hype around the Florida game out of th water.
 
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#13
#13
Vol$_Deep_11_9 said:
Imagine the hype if both teams come into Neyland on October 15th undefeated. Not looking past UGA or TAMU but if we can win these next two, the hype around that game will blow the hype around the Florida game out of th water.
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Ranking and hype wise it would be our biggest game in Neyland since 98 Florida
 
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#15
#15
I really do not think A&M has been tested yet..they sight the Arkansas game..but let's be honest here..ARK is not good.

UT will be their first big test, not saying we roll them. But it will be the game we actually see what their team is made of.
 
#19
#19
ImportedVoL said:
I really do not think A&M has been tested yet..they sight the Arkansas game..but let's be honest here..ARK is not good.

UT will be their first big test, not saying we roll them. But it will be the game we actually see what their team is made of.
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HUH?? I think you're seriously underselling. They've also beaten a decent UCLA team. And Arkansas won at TCU. Arkansas was a quality win. Tennessee will likely be their biggest test yet when they play them but make no mistake...the Aggies are good. And keep in mind that none of us really know what this Florida team is made of. Hell, we haven't even beaten Georgia yet so slow your roll, Skippy. At the end of the day we've still only really played 2 quality quarters so far. No reason to think we're going to "roll" any half way decent opponent. Especially on the road. :good!:
 
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